The Hogwarts Letter

Chapter 4

It was summer. School had been let out a few weeks ago and Hermione was reasonably sure that she'd passed her exams and done well. She spent her days sprawled out on her bed, reading, or in the cool, air-conditioned library. She liked summer much better than school, mainly because she didn't have to see other people during the summer. Hermione could read all she wanted and not have to worry about the teasing that had become constant by the end of the year. Her parents had to work most days, but she was fine being alone. She liked it.
The only slight problem that came with being home alone, however, was that she had to do all the chores. Hermione would gladly do that in exchange for the freedom she got, but it was still time away from reading. One hot summer's day, she tore herself away from the engrossing Lord of the Rings and went outside to go get the post.
It was a sweltering day. The sun beat down on her bushy brown hair and she could practically see the grass wilting beneath her feet. She opened their red mail box and pulled out the various letters, postcards, and ads, then ran back into the cool house. Once she got inside, she dropped the mail on the kitchen counter and turned to head back to her room when something caught her eye--
A letter had landed a foot or so away from the other mail. It appeared to be made out of some type of heavy parchment-like paper, and, even more surprisingly, it was addressed to her. She tentatively reached out for it. It was heavy and indeed made of parchment. Her fingers brushed something odd, and she flipped it over to see a crest impressed with wax on the seal of the envelope.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . . ." she mumbled aloud. "What is this?"
She almost put it back down, but curiosity overcame caution and she decided to open it. It was for her, anyway. So she should open it. Right?
Grabbing a letter opener and a glass of ice water, Hermione bounded up the stairs into the safety of her room. She settled cross-legged on her bed and sliced through the fancy seal. A few pieces of parchment spilled out. She grabbed the largest one and unfolded it.
"Dear Miss Granger," she read aloud. "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."
She set the letter down. A shivery feeling wound up through her. Either this was an elaborate hoax (probably not by the boys at school; they were too stupid) or it was real. Did she believe in magic? No, she thought at first, but then she remembered the bookshelf and Vincent. Hermione picked up the letter and kept reading.
"Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress"
The entire letter was written very fancily, with curling script at the top. She looked at it and read, "Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore" There was a list of awards below his name, including several that sounded like nonsense. Supreme Mugwump? What did that even mean?
A sinking feeling started in her stomach. Was this just a scam? Tricking gullible girls like her? Of course magic wasn't real. The accident with Vincent had been just that, an accident. But . . . a small part of her was still hopeful. She'd ask her parents when they came home.