Acceptance Letter

A/N: The characters contained within are J.K. Rowling's, I am simply using them to entertain my self and others.
Summer is almost here, and along with it comes some big things. The new movie and the final book. One way or another, whatever happens in the book I am planning on finishing the story.
Fixed the error, thanks for all who wrote in.
Enjoy it, review it, suggest it, spread it, love, live, and everything else I can’t think of…
-Your Humble Servant,
J.T.P

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The Massey Residence, London, England

It had been a long day for Joy, she had just gotten back from a tedious day at court and now just wanted to have a nice dinner with Emma and take a hot bath. She walked into the kitchen to get dinner started for her and Emma, when she saw a large bird patiently standing on the sill of the kitchen window. Joy let out a gasp of surprise and nearly dropped her briefcase at the sheer size of it and how it was intently looking at what seemed to be her. That’s not just a bird it’s an owl, do owls even live in London anymore? And what’s it holding, is that an envelope?
The owl gave a soft hoot and tapped on the glass, urging her to open the window. Joy didn’t know what else to do so she slid the window open and immediately retreated to the other side as if expecting it to attack her. The owl did no such thing; it simply dropped the envelope on the counter, spread its wings and flew back out the window, leaving a completely bewildered Joy staring at the diminutive envelope.
She first noticed that it was addressed to Emma, more specifically Emmaline Massey of Number Eight Broom Hall Lane, Upper Left Bedroom. Well that’s oddly specific she thought to herself as the she broke the wax seal which had a very elegant looking coat of arms on it with the inscription Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus. She unfolded the letter and began to read:

Miss Emmaline Massey,
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 September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress

Joy stared at the letter with complete incredulity. What is this? This HAS got to be a joke! There aren’t such things as witchcraft. And I’ve never heard of this school before… hold on, I have heard this name before! Wait... that young man, Harry, he said that’s where he goes to school! He must be pulling a prank on us… but why? It doesn’t seem like something he’d do, it isn’t even really that funny. And what on earth does it mean by ‘your owl’ it’s not as if you can just go to the post office. There’s no way that this is real
Joy re-read the letter several times, and finally just accepted it as a rather odd joke that Harry was pulling on Emma. She would certainly let Emma read the letter but before she gave it to her she’d talk to Harry about why he was doing this. Lord knows she’s been through enough in her life, no need to add another disappointment on her shoulders.

The next day Joy stayed home from work so she could talk to Harry about the letter she’d gotten when he stopped by to drop Emma off. It was just a little after one when Harry came with Emma to their house.
“Hi Ms. Massey! How are you?” Harry asked.
“I’m fine Harry, and you can call me Joy. I was wondering if I might be able to talk to you for a moment, just off in the living room. We’ll only be a moment Emma if you want to go to the kitchen lunch is ready.” She opened the door wider to let Harry in as Emma dashed off to the kitchen.
Harry gulped nervously, why did she want to talk to him privately? Out of paranoia Harry’s hand travelled to his wand inside his jacket pocket.
“Harry, come over here sit down,” she patted the seat next to her then seeing his expression she added, “oh don’t worry you’re not in trouble I just was wondering if you might be able to help me understand this letter I got last night.” Joy pulled out the letter that she had, by now, read many times.
Harry saw the parchment and immediately understood what she had wanted to talk to him about; he knew it could only be one thing. He grinned.
“Do you know what this is? Is it a joke you’re pulling on Emma, is that why you’re smiling?” She asked noticing his rather odd grin, she had never truly seen Harry smile so it was unsettling to see a full grin coming form him now.
“Well if I could have a guess I would reckon it’s from Hogwarts. You know, my school, I got a letter that looked just like that a few years ago, did an owl deliver it?” Harry asked.
Joy just nodded mutely. A moment of silence passed where they just looked at each other.
“I bet you’re wondering if this is all just a bunch of rubbish,” Harry said finally.
“It can’t possibly be true! I mean there aren’t such things, they just exist in fairytale books, don’t they?” She spat out, releasing the uncertainty that had been building ever since the letter arrived.
Harry just nodded, “Would you like a demonstration? You should bring Emma in here also, does she know?”
She shook her head and rushed off to go get her daughter, a moment later she came in with Emma in tow and sat her down on the couch. “Dear, yesterday you got a letter from someone. Actually it’s not really someone, more of a somewhere. It was from Harry’s school, Hogwarts. Anyhow, it said that you got accepted into the school and are expected there for next term. If you wish to go I’ll be supportive of your decision. But before you say yes or no there there is something that may seem a little, odd…unique…different…well I can’t exactly explain it. Harry you said you had a demonstration?” She looked over at him pleadingly.
“Sure,” he turned towards Emma, “Hogwarts isn’t just a boarding school… it’s a school for a certain group of people, people who are special. People like you and I. It’s really common there for someone to have hair that changes colour or be able to move themselves quickly. Emma, Hogwarts is a school for witches and wizards.” His words echoed in the room, a deafening silence had fallen over the room with the revelation. He watched as Emma’s face slowly ran through a gamut of expressions, shock, excitement, disbelief, and confidence, yet still no words came from her, she seemed to be completely frozen in her seat.
“Well how about I just show you what I mean, seeing is believing right?” He smiled jokingly, as he pulled out his wand. “This is a real life wand, we use these at school and when we’re older we can use them anywhere. I can’t use it outside of school because I’m not of age yet.” He stopped seeing both Emma and Joy’s face failing to comprehend, “okay sorry about that, a little too much information for right now. Emma why don’t you give my wand a wave?” He asked, flipping his wand over he held it out to her by the tip.
Emma nervously clutched the handle of it with her right hand. She stepped back unsure of what to do next.
“Okay now before you wave it just step back a little bit more and point the wand over there, away from us. The first time I waved a wand I nearly punched a hole through the wall. Right now let’s see what you’ve got!” Harry said enthusiastically as he sat down next to Joy.
Emma swished it a little then finally deciding to go with the whole thing she just slashed it back and forth. Instantly there was a huge flash of light and a ripping noise.
“WOAH!!!” Emma yelled, stepping back in amazement. Across from where she was standing a huge tree had erupted out of the floor. Joy simply dropped the letter as she stared at Emma in amazement.
“Well, that’s a little bigger than what I expected. Now that right there is magic, not just something you see on T.V. Hogwarts teaches us how to use our wands so we don’t end up doing things like that everywhere we go. I have a feeling that we might have a visitor in a moment because of that tree. Let’s sit down and you can ask me anything you want while we wait. Are you ok Mrs. Massey? You look a little stunned.” Harry said, grinning slightly as he retook his seat on the couch.
“Oh, yes…yes I’m fine it’s just a lot to take in all at once. It is hard to believe that such a thing exists. How do people not know about them, about you? I mean I’ve never heard anyone talk about them outside of fairytales.” She took a deep breath trying to calm herself. Emma still just stood holding the wand limply, staring at Harry, completely gob smacked.
“Hogwarts will teach you everything you need to know, and you’ll no longer be ‘weird’ just because you sometimes let your magic get away from you Emma, all those things that happen to you are normal for us. I blew up my aunt once, she actually floated away she got so big. Every one of us has done some sort of involuntary magic at some point in their life. And you’ll love everyone there, the teachers are great, and so are the other kids. They’ll help you learn all about the magical world. I was from a Muggle family too so I know this all seems like a bit much. Oh sorry, Muggle means no-magic, so mostly everyone in the world are Muggles, or non-magic folk.” Harry paused once again, seeing their confused faces as they tried to follow what Harry was saying. “Blimey, I didn’t know that it’d be this hard to explain all of this. I guess it was easier for me because I desperately wanted to believe that there was something better than my Aunt and Uncle…”
Mid-sentence the doorbell rang. Joy jumped as if she’d been electrocuted. Harry smiled, “I think that this might be someone who could answer things loads better than I am.”
Emma hopped off the couch and sprinted towards the door. Harry stood up and led Joy down the hallway, the mother was obviously nervous and Harry was curious to see how she’d react to Dumbledore’s undoubtedly peculiar fashion sense.
Emma flipped the lock and opened the door to reveal Dumbledore standing in his most luridly purple robes. He looked down at Emma and smiled warmly.
“Hello little miss, you must be Emmaline Massey?” Dumbledore said to the ecstatic little girl, then turning to Joy he held out his hand, “and you must be Mrs. Joy Massey if I am not mistaken, I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
Joy was undoubtedly shaken by his initial appearance, and his title, but shook the headmaster’s hand with great kindness. Although his clothing appeared to be a bit amiss, something about the old man was reassuring and endearing.
“I’m sorry I’m intruding but the Ministry of Magic detected a rather large output of magic from your house and seeing as I was nearby I offered to see what was going on. My assistant headmistress Minerva McGonagall has told me that your daughter was sent an admission letter recently. Am I safe to assume that this had something to do with the report?”
“Sorry Headmaster, Joy asked me about the letter and the school, and I was trying to explain things so…”
“…I did it sir, I made the tree grow. It was my fault not Harry’s, he shouldn’t get in trouble.” Emma said in a strong voice as she stepped in front of Harry.
The headmaster smiled at the little girl, “Don’t worry Miss Massey, I was not about to reprimand Harry, although I do quite admire your courage to stand up for what you did. Now I think that is enough stress over the matter, if you don’t mind I’d like to help explain what I am sure Harry has already started to do very well.” The headmaster gave one of his good-natured winks at Harry, but he just ignored it. Harry was barely managing to keep a civil tone with him in front of the Masseys let alone go along with Dumbledore’s antics.
“While Harry here has undoubtedly told you somewhat about the school that your daughter has been accepted into I am hoping to clarify things, and tell you a little more about the current state of things in the wizarding world, shall we go somewhere a little more comfortable. There is much to tell you, alas not all of it is good.” Dumbledore stepped inside curtly and followed Joy and Emma to the living room. Harry walked beside him but did not say a word to the headmaster. Dumbledore noticed the seemingly icy demeanour Harry had developed and looked over to the boy and smiled sadly.
Once everyone was settled in the living room, Dumbledore, much to Emma and Joy’s surprise, conjured tea and biscuits for them all to nibble on. “Now that we are settled I see no sense in delaying any longer.” Dumbledore smiled, “So Harry, what have you discussed with the Masseys so far?”
Harry listed off that he’d explained the basics about wands, magic, and what the school was like.
“Ah, well he seems to have done a fine job of explaining the basics. I’ll try to fill in all the blanks, and then tell you about the wizarding world right now.”
Harry flinched at the last part, knowing how mild a euphemism he was using to describe Voldemort’s reign of destruction. Hopefully the revelation of the wizarding world being in such a state of turmoil would not dampen Emma and Joy’s enthusiasm. Harry crossed his fingers and turned his attention towards Dumbledore who was explaining the basics of the school.
The headmaster spent well over an hour explaining all the niceties of the school, why Emma became a witch, and even going so far as to describe the “wonderful assortment of pranks and gags at Weasley Wizard Wheezes.” When the topic of the school was finally exhausted the attention turned to the wizarding world itself and what was currently going on. Harry saw the headmaster straighten and rub his temples as he began.
“Now, onto the less pleasant facts of our world I fear,” Dumbledore smiled softly at the little girl who’d been completely enthralled by the discussion so far. “Now this is not intended to discourage you from sending Miss Massey here to Hogwarts, but currently our world is at war with others inside the wizarding population.”
This was when Joy piped up, “but didn’t you say that there weren’t that many wizards. I mean it couldn’t be a much of a war when only a few hundred are fighting.”
Dumbledore sighed, “I wish that were true, but I am afraid it isn’t. There is a dark wizard by the name of Lord Voldemort, who, with is faithful followers the Death Eaters, have been spreading panic and fear within the wizarding community. Now there have been many Dark Wizards over the centuries, but this one is especially so. This is the second time he has been terrorizing people.” He said grimly.
“What do you mean his second time?” Emma asked nervously.
“Well Lord Voldemort, born Tom Marvalo Riddle, was at his most powerful sixteen years ago, and was commiting the same horrific acts he is doing currently. Thankfully, although it was only temporary, he was defeated and his rule was destroyed.” Dumbledore stated, smiling proudly at Harry.
“How was he defeated, and if he was defeated how did he come back? You can’t bring people back from the dead can you?” Joy asked, her fear had been piqued by the headmaster’s latest revelation. She was wondering if it was the right idea to send her daughter to school during a war.
Dumbledore turned towards Harry his eyes twinkling mischievously. “He was defeated by a young boy, his parents were tragically murdered by Tom, but somehow this baby vanquished this dark lord. Although Voldemort tried to kill this him, his spell backfired and all that happened was that the boy received a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. No one is quite sure why, or what happened but somehow he brought about Voldemort’s end. For well over eleven years Voldemort was thought to be dead, but we were given quite the wakeup call five years ago when Voldemort returned. The same young boy who destroyed him the first time foiled his plans once more, this time at the age of eleven. Over the next four years he continued to fight Voldemort in different settings and ways. He is the one of the very few wizards who have actually duelled with him, and one of even fewer who has actually survived doing so. He is actually a current sixth year at Hogwarts right now, and is by far one of the best Quidditch seekers I have ever seen pass through the school, better even, some may say, than his father.”
Harry’s cheeks glowed fiery red under the headmaster’s embarrassing praise.
“What’s his name?” Emma asked quizzically, in complete wonder how a little boy could defeat such an evil person so many times.
Dumbledore turned once again towards Harry, looked deep into his eyes, and then proudly said, “His name, if I’m not mistaken is Harry James Potter.”
“WHAT!!” Joy and Emma both shouted at the same time swirling in their seats to face the embarrassed boy. Harry buried his face in his hands. Well he couldn’t have done that any with more subtlety. I sound like some sort of prophet or something.
Dumbledore chuckled softly as if he could hear Harry’s thoughts. Harry raised his head out of his hands to look over at Emma and Joy who were both staring at him incredulously. For Harry this was right up there with his most embarrassing moments in his life. He was angry at Dumbledore for telling the story in such a way that it made him appear to be something he wasn’t, and not only that but to do so with him right there.
“Why didn’t you tell us Harry?” Emma said, sounding a little put out that her best friend had not told her something this important.
Harry got up and sat down next to Emma and put an arm around her comfortingly. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to scare you or worry you. It’s not exactly normal for a 16 year old to fight the world’s most powerful dark lord. And it’s summer, I just want to be like any other sixteen year old right now, because once I get back to school everyone stares at me for my stupid scar and my over sensationalized stories.” Harry ended in a somewhat defeated voice. Joy placed a comforting hand on the boy’s shoulder and Emma hugged him.
“It’s alright Harry, we wouldn’t have cared, I mean if we could handle the sudden fact that Emma is a witch, and that she made a tree appear out of no where, then I’m sure we could have handled your story too. And you’re right, you should have every right to live a normal life if you want to.” Joy said in a comforting voice.
“I completely agree with Mrs. Massey here, I believe that you should enjoy this summer to its fullest and not worry about what is to come.” Dumbledore put stress on the last words. “You are first and foremost a student and a teenager, not an Auror, and it would do well for you to pursue what other teenagers do. While I cannot stress how important it is for you to stay wary you should also relax for, unfortunately, it may be the only time you have for a long time.” Dumbledore’s eyes showed true sorrow and compassion. When he stopped to think about it, Harry had never seen the Hogwarts headmaster this worn down. Joy sensed that there was a large amount of sorrow and tension between the two wizards in front of her, and decided that they needn’t bring it up again just for their sake.
“Well Mr. Dumbledore…Headmaster Dumbledore, thank you so much for meeting Emmaline and I. We cannot tell you how much it means to us that you would take time out of what seems to be a rather busy schedule to help us understand, especially when there is a war going on. I’ll make sure Harry is acting like a normal teen, but I’ll also make sure that he is safe. I don’t know anything about spells or wands, but I can promise you that I’ll protect him. He means too much to Emma for me to let him get harmed.” Joy smiled.
Dumbledore stood up and shook Joy’s hand congenially. “The same goes for you Mrs. Massey, I will have an Auror posted by your house to ensure that you and your daughter will not come into any sort of harm.” Dumbledore smiled at the little girl and then turned to Harry, “Harry? Might we have a word while you go back to the house?” Harry just nodded fearing what new revelation Dumbledore would have for him. “Excellent! Thank you for your hospitality and bearing with my rather long winded explanation, barring any more trees or things of that nature, I will expect to see you, Miss Emmaline, at Hogwarts on September 1st.” Dumbledore stepped out the door, and Harry followed closely waving goodbye to Emma after promising to meet up with her at the park tomorrow.
“Harry, thank you for acting the way you did today. I think it was best that they were told as much as possible here instead of Emmaline learning it all second hand from her peers. This year the entrance rate has dropped significantly because parents are too afraid to send their children away from their sight, even if it is safer at Hogwarts.” At this Dumbledore stopped walking and turned to face Harry, “Harry, I meant what I said in there. You really are an amazing young man facing adversity most people could never imagine, and overcoming it with a sense of style that I daresay I don’t even have. I also meant what I said when I told you that you had to have a normal summer, relax. If you’ve been reading the paper you’ll have noticed that there haven’t been any other attacks since the one on Privet Drive, sadly this is only the calm before the storm.”
The headmaster started to walk again, and after a few moments of silence, started speaking in a softer voice, “I really and truly am sorry that I have lost your trust Harry. I am still teaching myself that I cannot protect you from everything without an explanation. You are so tied to the outcome of this war that it is my duty to prepare you as much as I can, and therefore I will strive to tell you more now, although, because you have still not yet mastered occlumency I cannot tell you everything. I hope that one day we can rebuild what we used to have, I know it may take months or years but I am willing to try.” Reaching the front step of headquarters Dumbledore came to a stop and placed his hands on Harry’s shoulders. “Before I leave you let me say two more things. One; it is not your fault; you couldn’t have done anything to prevent your godfather from going to the Ministry that night. And secondly; this is not only your battle, let your friend’s help you along the way, that is why they are here, they care for you.” As Dumbledore stepped away form the door and back to the street he smiled, “There are more ways than one to overcome grief Harry; you just need to find the one that suits you.” Dumbledore winked over his spectacles, turned, and without saying another word apparated away.