The Marauders Begin (I)

The Evans House

July 7, 1971

At the sound of a doorbell, MRS. EVANS opens her front door to reveal a middle-aged woman dressed in rather peculiar emerald-green robes. She wears glasses along with a cat brooch upon her chest. She also wear earrings in the shape of owls. It is lightly raining outside, and she holds a black umbrella, rather uncomfortably, as if she is not used to handling such a device.

MRS. EVANS: Hello, hello! Please come in!

MINERVA: (Stepping inside, still holding the open umbrella) Thank you.

MR. EVANS: (Entering the room rather hurriedly) Let me take that for you. Bad luck to have it open inside, you know.

MINERVA: (tartly) I'm afraid I don't. (Looks further towards the staircase, where two young girls stand, very alert, one with flaming red hair, the other with a darker plait.) And this must be Lily, I assume? (She addresses the girl with red hair, who nods politely).

MRS. EVANS: Please, if you would, come into our living room. I'm sure we'll all be much more comfortable there. Can I get you some tea?

MINERVA: Certainly, thank you.

MRS. EVANS rushes to the kitchen and returns with a tray full of steaming cups. MINERVA takes a cup and begins to drink.

MINERVA: (Setting herself on the sofa against the wall) I assume from the warm hospitality that I have presently received from you that my letter did successfully reach your residence?

MR. EVANS: (Sitting in an armchair across from the sofa, as does his wife. The girls, LILY and PETUNIA, sit on the floor by their parents) Yes, it did. We were rather shocked, actually-

MRS. EVANS: Pleasantly shocked, though-

MINERVA: But all the same, you must have many questions for me.

MRS. EVANS: Yes. Your name, if you would.

MINERVA: My apologies. Minerva McGonagall; I am an instructor at Hogwarts school.

MRS. EVANS: (Smiling) Nice to meet you. And if you would, please, describe the reasons why your institution is interested in our daughter.

MINERVA: We believe that Lily possesses certain skills which will allow her to excel at Hogwarts.

MR. EVANS: (Shares a somewhat uncomfortable look with his wife) And what exactly- where is the school located?

MINERVA: (Curtly) It is located in the Scottish countryside.

MR. EVANS: And how would Lily be transported there?

MINERVA: If Lily chooses to accept, transportation will be provided to her by means of the school train. She will also be transported home for major holidays as well as for the summer.

MRS. EVANS: And what exactly do students study at Hogwarts? What do you teach?

MINERVA: (Selectively choosing her words) Hogwarts offers a wide range of study to various pupils. Beginning with general education courses, students are later given the opportunity to select more specific electives, which would later prove useful in their respective careers.

MRS. EVANS: And what are some of these careers?

MINERVA: Occupations that last for a lengthened period of one's life that function to benefit our community-

MR. EVANS: We are aware of the definition of a career, Mrs. McGonagall, thank you.

MINERVA: Oh, please call me Minerva.

MR. EVANS: Very well. Minerva, I'm afraid that we will need more information about this school if we are to send our daughter there.

MINERVA: But of course. I have already answered every question you have asked me, and I prepared to answer many more. Please, continue.

MR. EVANS: What we need to know-

MRS. EVANS: (Cutting him off) Minerva, do you have children?

MINERVA: I'm afraid I do not.

MRS. EVANS: Well, speaking to you as a woman who monitors children on a daily basis, surely you understand that our concern for the safety of our daughter is, by all means, our top priority.

MINERVA: (Nodding) I can assure you that there is no safer place for a girl like Lily to live and learn than Hogwarts.

MRS. EVANS: But what do you mean, "a girl like Lily"? What exactly are you interested in? Is it her grades? Or her extracurriculars? Something outside the classroom?

MINERVA: I am sure we can all agree that Lily's accomplishments both in and out of the classroom have been nothing short than outstanding. However, what we at Hogwarts look for in a potential student is something that they possess within them. It is a birthright of some sorts. It cannot be judged, bought, or earned. Acceptance at Hogwarts is rather like a gift.

MR. EVANS: Birthright? But how can you be so sure?

MRS. EVANS: (Slowly becoming exasperated) What does this school offer? What exactly do you teach?

MINERVA: (Closing her eyes for a moment, and sighing) Very well. If I may ask a question. (Addressing LILY directly) Miss Evans, has there ever been a time when you were able to do something... unexplainable? Make something happen that you couldn't understand? Make something move without touching it? Or changing your appearance at will?

LILY slowly looks up at her parents.

MRS. EVANS: It's okay, honey, you can answer.

LILY: I- I can make things float. In the air.

MINERVA: (Nodding) Anything else?

MR. EVANS: There was a time- only last year, I believe- Lily and Petunia were on the swingset in the playground. Lily was swinging up far too high. I had looked away for a few moments, and before I knew it, she was higher than the top-most pole. Soon, she was airborne. But the fall that should have been highly dangerous wasn't consequential at all. She soared through the air, landing lightly on her feet. I'm sure if it had been anyone else, they would have broken their arms, or God forbid their neck. But Lily walked away without a scratch.

MINERVA: (Nodding again) Incidents like these are very common for Hogwarts students- before they are educated, of course. You see, Lily possesses an ability that causes her to do these supernatural things. It is at Hogwarts where we will teach her to hone these skills.

MRS. EVANS: You mean... magic. You're going to take our daughter away to learn magic tricks.

MINERVA: (For the first time, MINERVA lets out a laugh) It is much, much more than that. Even in the event that you just described, on the- swingset, was it?- if it weren't for Lily's magical abilities, she would have been seriously hurt. She was able to save herself that time, thank God, but just as magic has what it takes to save a life, it also can be deadly. It is at Hogwarts where we will teach Lily to both use her magic and to control it as well, in order to protect not only herself but those around her from potential danger. Magic at its worst can be toxic, but at its best, it is a beautiful, beautiful thing. (Takes a sip of tea and looks directly at the couple across from her, smiling slightly) And that, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, is what I teach.