Chereads / Hogwarts: Novel Era of the Wizarding World / Chapter 3 - Doubts amidst excitement

Chapter 3 - Doubts amidst excitement

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HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT & WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Mr Adam Taylor

Taylor's residence

5, Bakers street

London.

Dear Mr. Taylor,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Please find enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

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 tag5.

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 Theory by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

I 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

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT & WIZARDRY

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Adam's hands were steady as he read the letter, his eyes moving over the familiar words, confirming everything he had imagined. But he kept his expression neutral, careful not to reveal the excitement bubbling inside him. He folded the letter and placed it gently on the table, his fingers lingering for just a second longer.

For a moment, the room was filled with a tense silence. His parents, sitting across from him, exchanged puzzled glances, waiting for Adam to say something. George, ever practical, spoke first.

"Well? What does it say?"

Adam took a breath, his mind racing to keep his excitement in check. He knew this was the moment where he had to be careful—if he reacted too strongly, his parents would sense something was off. "It's... an invitation. To a school."

"A school?" Olivia repeated, her brow furrowing. "What school?"

"It's called Hogwarts," Adam replied quietly, as if testing the waters.

"Hogwarts?" George echoed, his tone skeptical. "Never heard of it. Is it new?"

Adam shook his head. "No, I don't think so. I heard about it once, a while back… someone mentioned it to me. They said it was a place for people who can use magic." He looked up at his parents, hoping they couldn't see the lie in his eyes.

Olivia blinked, clearly trying to process this. "Magic? But... we've never seen you use magic, Adam. And besides, we know of the magic schools around here. They're well-established, and none of them send letters by... owls."

George frowned, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, this feels... off. The schools we've heard of send representatives when they find a capable child, and they usually come in person. Why would this one send a letter by bird?"

Adam nodded slowly, understanding their doubts. He also knew little about the magic schools in this world, they were also only a few in number so he understood how their admission process worked. His parents were right—it did sound strange, especially since they had no reason to believe he could do magic when they hadn't seen him do magic and also knowing that children using magic was very much rare compared to adults using magic. He needed to convince them without raising suspicion. "I know it seems weird. But the person I talked to said Hogwarts is different from the others. They don't just take any magic user. You have to apply... and I asked them to consider me."

George's eyes narrowed. "You applied? When?"

"A while back," Adam lied smoothly, though his heart raced a little faster. "I didn't say anything because I wasn't sure they'd accept me."

Olivia tilted her head, clearly uncertain. "But... Adam, we've never seen you do anything magical. How could you even apply?"

Adam paused, searching for the right words. "I've... felt something. Like a spark, maybe. Nothing big, but enough to make me curious. So I'm sure about it, also you can also make fire mom so I believe that I'll be able to do it soon too. That's why I wanted to apply—to see if they could help me figure it out."

George and Olivia exchanged another glance, both of them looking more skeptical by the second. George spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "I don't know, Adam. This doesn't seem right. How do we even know this place is real? They could be trying to trick you into something."

Adam felt the tension in the air and knew this was his chance. "We can ask them for proof. I'll write back, and we can ask them to show us something real—something that proves they're legitimate." He met their gazes, trying to convey as much sincerity as he could. "I wouldn't want to go if it wasn't safe."

Olivia sighed, still unsure. "I don't want to take any chances with you, Adam. We'll need more than just a letter to trust this... Hogwarts."

"Agreed," George added, crossing his arms. "If this school is as special as you say, they won't have any problem proving themselves."

Adam nodded quickly, relieved they hadn't pressed further. "Exactly. I'll write back and ask for proof. And if it doesn't check out, we'll forget about it."

His parents seemed to relax a little at that. Olivia reached over, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Alright, Adam. We'll let you send the reply. But until we see something real, we're staying cautious, okay?"

"Okay," Adam agreed, already thinking ahead. He was confident the reply would come along with the proof they needed—he just had to play it right without giving too much away.

Adam sat at the dining table with a pen in hand, carefully drafting the letter. His mind was still buzzing with the excitement from the day's events, but he forced himself to focus. His parents were watching him closely, so he needed to be careful with his words. After a few moments of thought, he began to write.

* Dear Professor McGonagall,

I was very surprised and honored to receive your letter. My parents, however, are understandably cautious. They are concerned about the legitimacy of your school, as we've never heard of Hogwarts, and we haven't seen any public mentions of it before.

As much as I wish to attend Hogwarts, I must ask for some proof of its existence—something clear enough for my parents to believe. If you could provide more information or some way to demonstrate that your school is real, it would ease their concerns greatly. I truly hope that this is not a misunderstanding or mistake, as I am very eager to join Hogwarts if the invitation is genuine.

Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, Adam Taylor*

Once he finished, Adam sat back and reviewed the letter. It was just formal enough to match the tone of the one he'd received, and more importantly, it didn't give away too much. He wanted to ask for the proof without sounding suspicious, and the letter struck that balance.

He folded it neatly and tied it to the owl's leg, giving the bird a gentle nod as it flew off into the blue sky.

With the letter sent, Adam stood up and excused himself. "I'm going upstairs to my room for a bit," he said, keeping his tone casual. Adam was excited to see his status window as he has already felt the magic inside him.

His parents exchanged a glance but nodded. "Alright, Adam. Let us know when you hear back," George replied, though there was still a hint of doubt in his voice.

Adam climbed the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest. As he reached his room and shut the door behind him, he let out a long breath, finally allowing the excitement to flood back in. He had written the letter and kept the lie intact, and now it was just a matter of waiting for the response.

He sat on the edge of his bed, feeling the magic in his chest again, more alive than before. The realization that his life could be on the verge of the adventure he had dreamed of in his past life sent a shiver through him. Everything was falling into place, step by step.

All he had to do now was wait.

After Adam had gone upstairs, the letter from Hogwarts lay on the table, untouched since he had placed it there. Olivia reached for it, her fingers hesitating slightly before picking it up. George leaned closer as she unfolded it, his brows furrowing in curiosity.

As Olivia read the contents aloud, her voice became more uncertain with each sentence.

"Uniform: three sets of plain work robes, black. One pointed hat… one pair of protective gloves… made of dragon hide?" She looked up at George, her face twisted in disbelief. "Dragon hide?"

George blinked and frowned. "Keep going."

Olivia continued, her worry deepening with every word. "Books: *The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)* by Miranda Goshawk, *Magical Drafts and Potions* by Arsenius Jigger, *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* by Newt Scamander…"

She trailed off, exchanging a look with George. "This… this doesn't seem right at all. These names, George. Dragons? Spells? Fantastic beasts?" Her voice shook slightly. "It sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. And look—" she pointed at a section, "a wand? He needs a wand, George! This has to be some kind of prank."

George sighed, rubbing his forehead as he processed the strange details. "I can't say I've ever seen a school that requires students to buy a cauldron and a crystal phial either." He looked over at the letter, eyes narrowing at the odd list of supplies. "If we hadn't seen that owl with our own eyes, I'd be sure this was someone pulling a trick on Adam."

Olivia set the letter down with a trembling hand, her voice tense with worry. "What kind of school sends an owl to deliver a letter? This can't be real, George. I've never heard of a magic school like this before. And we've never even seen Adam do magic! How can a school like this just appear out of nowhere?"

George remained quiet for a moment, thinking deeply. He could see the fear in Olivia's eyes, and it unsettled him too. "I don't know," he admitted softly. "It's bizarre, I'll give you that. A pointed hat, a wand, books about potions—it sounds too far-fetched to be true."

Olivia's worry only deepened. "What if this is some sort of scam? What if Adam is being manipulated somehow? He's still so young, George. He's smart, but this… this feels wrong."

George reached out, taking her hand gently. "I know, Liv. I know it feels strange. But Adam… he's not the type of kid to get caught up in something without thinking it through. He's always been mature beyond his years. Remember how calm he was when he explained this? He didn't rush into anything, and he's asked them for proof."

Olivia bit her lip, glancing down at the letter again. "But dragons, George? Spells? This doesn't seem real."

George nodded slowly, his gaze soft but reassuring. "I agree it sounds ridiculous. But if there's any truth to this, we'll know soon. Adam's asked for proof, and we'll be here to see it. If it's real, well… maybe this is just a world we've never known about. And if it's not real, then we're here to make sure nothing bad happens to him. We'll protect him."

Olivia's expression softened a little at his words, though the worry in her eyes remained. "I just don't want him to get hurt. No matter how smart or mature he is, he's still our boy."

George squeezed her hand, offering a gentle smile. "I know. And we'll make sure he's safe, no matter what. But let's wait and see what happens. If Hogwarts is real, we'll know soon enough. And if it isn't, we'll protect him from whatever nonsense this is."

Olivia nodded, though her fingers still fidgeted slightly. "You're right. We'll wait and see. But I can't help worrying, George. He's still just a child, no matter how much he seems to understand."

George chuckled softly. "He is, but he's a good kid. And we've got his back, no matter what happens."

Olivia smiled faintly, though the worry didn't completely leave her. "I just hope this isn't a mistake…"