When Country Comes to Hogwarts

Southern Hospitality or Southern Hostility?

Willow looked at the Headmaster and answered "We don't need yer charity Headmaster. We manage just fine on our own. I also like living on a small farm with my family and milking cows. I enjoy it and I enjoy this work, I don't think I need a different scene or culture...or whatever bullshit you just spouted to me."

Dumbledore blinked in amazement at this girl's blunt and slightly hostile response. Most people he met couldn't resist money...especially coming from him. He tried to ease her anger "I'm sorry Miss. Bronson. I didn't mean to offend you, I just think that you would flourish better and even come to enjoy our culture and that you would become an even better person." 

Willow twanged "Headmaster, I am raised in smalltown Georgia. There is nothing wrong with me as a person, I was raised by amazing parents and I don't need a culture shock to become "better"."

Dumbledore gaped like a fish at her and Willow huffed "Cut the bullshit Headmaster, what is the real reason that you want me to come to your school?"

Dumbledore floundered before he said smoothly "I have a student that I think is at risk of throwing away his education and a friend of mine was a guest speaker and showed me your records and I think you have a pretty good chance of helping him." 

Willow glared at him as she sensed that he was hiding something but her heart wouldn't let her turn down helping someone. She grumbled "Fine, I will talk to my parents about attending your damn magic school. But I am only doing it to help this student." 

Dumbledore was worried about that tidbit of information, he worried about what he would need to do if she decided not to stay at the end of the year or if she found out the real reason that he wanted her there for Mr. Potter. 

Deciding that he was overthinking and worrying too much, he took to watching the girl silently as she finished the floor. It turned out that her parents were a lot easier to convince then she was, they wanted her daughter to have adventures and such, but could never afford it, something they felt deeply guilty about.

Willow snapped "Mamma, Daddy don't ya dare do that to yourselves. I think our family is fine; just the way it is. Charlotte and I do not need fancy things to be happy, I want to do this to help the student, not because I think I need an adventure or change in my life."

Dumbledore blinked at that and her parents blushed. Austin Bronson smiled "Don't you worry Willow, we won't stray on that thought." 

Dumbledore looked at his wife who was eyeing him with hawk-like eyes. She said,  "Mr. Dumbledore, are you still Supreme Mugwump and Chief Warlock on top of being Headmaster?" 

He eyed the woman cautiously and answered "Yes, Mrs. Bronson, I am. May I ask how you know this information?" 

She answered "My father, Harper Butler attended Hogwarts before he moved here to North America. He met my mother Maybell Hamilton and married. My younger sister and I heard the stories growing up from both my parents, my mom told us about Ilvermony and my father about Hogwarts. Then I found out that my daughters are witches. So they, of course, attend magic school, it will be Charlotte's first year this year." 

Dumbledore bit his lip at that revelation. He was hoping that Charlotte Bronson was a squib and that he wouldn't have to extend the same offer to her as her sister. He didn't want the little brat to get in the way of his plans for her sister and thus the Greater Good.

Dixie Bronson glared at the Headmaster and said "Now see here Headmaster. I am allowing my daughter to attend your magic school, though it is half a world away, I want her to be allowed an emergency portkey at all times. I also want to be updated about her if something happens, I know that it is a far distance but if I don't get letters from her at least once a week then I will assume that something happened and will be contacting you. If I find out that you had been hiding information about my daughter, you will learn just why some of us love our 2nd Amendment so much." 

Dumbledore blinked 'So much for Southern Hospitality' he thought. Now he knew why people called protective moms, mother bears. This woman was really aggressive and he figured that he would probably be able to take her in a duel if he had to, he was after all the powerful Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore, however, knew that he needed to appease this woman so that he may allow her daughter to keep Harry on his path in accordance with the prophecy.
He answered "That is acceptable Mrs. Bronson. I want Willow to enjoy this experience and I will also keep her safety my number one priority. She will be just fine."
He didn't know how wrong he was about that statement as Willow Bronson would come back the next summer an almost completely different person; not to mention completely change the wizarding world for the better. 

Dixie Bronson nodded in acceptance as she said "Then we will allow Willow to transfer to Hogwarts for a year trial and then we will see what she wants at the end of the school year. We will also be keeping in tabs with my father so that he can help us understand what she is going through and sharing her updates; just so you know." 

Dumbledore nodded; he wasn't scared of these people, but if it got their daughter to his school, then he would bend a little bit. He could sacrifice just a little bit of comfort for the Greater Good of the Wizarding World.

He nodded "That settles it then. I will leave you guys to it, and I will have a professor here on the afternoon of August 31, to transport all of you to Britain for school supplies and so that you are closer to the train station for the train ride to Hogwarts. I will also have them bring the necessary form and the official acceptance letter. They will also answer any questions and concerns that you may have. Good evening."  

The parents nodded while Willow eyed the Headmaster warily. She still didn't trust the man, there was just something really shady about him and she would definitely be on her guard around him.  He took his leave and Willow turned to her parents "Do you think he will give the same offer to Char when she turns 13?" 

Charlotte shrugged "I kind of hope not, but at the same time I wouldn't really mind attending school with you." 

Willow smiled at that while her parents shared a look, they suspected that the Headmaster did not really include Charlotte in his plans or his thoughts; but they would have to wait and see what happened when the young girl turned 13.

The family pushed the thoughts away and went back to the dinner that they had prepared to eat before the Headmaster disrupted them. They talked about everything but the strange elderly wizard and his offer, they still had time yet to discuss it.