The Cupboard Series 4: The Fourth School

Chapter 6

The sudden beating of wings through the nearest window and thence across the room jerked Hermione's head up from the book that she was reading. She blinked rapidly as her eyes fought to focus on the fast approaching owl – a common barn owl, she immediately categorised.

Its great yellow eyes fixed on her as it crossed the lounge and its wings flared out, allowing it to land gracefully on the coffee table in front of her. Regally, it lifted one leg, allowing her to untie the thick envelope that she could see was addressed to her.

Before she even had a chance to thank the owl, let alone to scurry off to find it a treat or two, the barn owl had crouched slightly, then flapped up and back the way that it'd come from.

"Aren't you going to open it?" her dad asked

From the corner of her eye, Hermione could have sworn that he had the biggest grin that she'd ever seen on his face, but by the time that she'd turned to focus on him properly, he was simply looking bored, without a smile at all.

With a nod, Hermione slid her finger under the flap and tore open the envelope. Inside she found two pieces of parchment and a small booklet or brochure done up in a dark forest green. The hint of gold on the brochure's cover caught her attention and tempted her curiosity, but she resisted in favour of the letters.

Opening the first piece of parchment, her eyes rounded and she gasped, even as her eyes flew backwards and forwards across the page.

DIRICAWL ACADEMY OF MAGICAL STUDIES

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that a place has been reserved for you at Diricawl Academy of Magical Studies. Diricawl Academy is a new school, currently located on the grounds of Potter Haven.

You, along with your parents, are invited to an open day at Diricawl Academy on Monday, July 25, 1994 to meet your fellow prospective students as well as the staff. At the meeting, we will also discuss how Diricawl Academy will run along with the subjects that you might wish to pursue.

Term begins on 1 September.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

Dropping the letter to the floor in her haste, Hermione flicked open the second piece of parchment. This, she saw, was a letter addressed to her parents, detailing the offer that she had just received, the invitation to the open day and a little more about the new school.

"Here, this is for you," Hermione said, practically flinging the parchment at her father.

Her father's chuckle managed to weave its way into her consciousness, tearing her hungry gaze away from the gold embossed picture of a diricawl holding a quill, encircled by the name of the new school.

"What?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing, dear," her father grinned. "It's just that I don't remember you getting this excited when Professor McGonagall first told you about your being a witch and offering you a place at Hogwarts."

"But this is different," she countered. "This means that I can go to school with Harry again."

Her voice trailed off again as she realised that the piece of parchment in her father's hand had yet to even be opened. Her eyes narrowed as she flicked between it and her father's face.

"You knew!" she blurted, then, seeing his grin widen. "Did you and Mum have something to do with this?"

"Maybe," her father replied, leaving no doubt in her mind that her suspicion was correct.