Elizabeth Banks and the Unexpected Letter (Harry Potter Next Gen Fanfic)

6 Secrets Revealed

I hear the sound of an engine. I look up from the mysterious letter and see that Dad's home. Great. I think to myself. Dad's going to hear this as well! To avoid questioning from my father, I race back inside the house, pass the postcard and bill to Mum and sit in a chair, trying to process what is happening.

"Hello family! Did you all have a nice day today?" Dad's question rings through my ears. No, I didn't have a good day, apart from when I somehow turned Mrs. Aikenhead's hair blue. Didn't Harry turn one of his teacher's hair blue as well? Crap! Crap, crap crap! I'm glad I didn't tell Mum yet but I've got a slight feeling that James heard about it. Stuff like that goes around quickly like that at my school, because since it's so normal, abnormal thing spread quicker that the flu!

So all I end up saying is "Okay.". Mum looks at me and then explains what actually happened. I let her voice wash over me, still immersed in my own thoughts. When she's finished, she picks up the postcard and says to my father that my cousins are having a lovely time in Japan. Dad grunts when he reads that he has to pay for the water bill. Then they turn on me, giving me a look that says "Well, open the letter you have in your hand". I'm about to turn it over when they catch the address.

"Amy," Dad asks Mum "Is this some sort of joke? I know you gave her the books but did you have to take it this far?"

Mum looks offended. "I would never do such a thing! I thought it was a friend who invited you to a Harry Potter themed party! You know, there have been a lot of those going around over the past few years and some of them look pretty fun. Perhaps-"

"Amy! Now is not the time!" Dad snaps. He then smiles and turns to me. "Elizabeth, just open the letter so we can see what this is about, please."

I nod, speechless. A part of me wants it to be a real letter, to know that I'm magical, but another part thinks "What if it's just a joke? That Jasmine created this to bring me down lower?" And then there's the part that is anxious because, if it is real, it would mean that I'm not normal. That all I've ever wanted to be and achieve in life is a lie. C'mon Elizabeth! You won't know if you don't try! Slowly and cautiously, I turn the heavy envelope over. My fingertips touch the red wax seal and is about to lift it up when-

CRACK!

"Did someone's car back-fire?" Dad asks. No one replies because there, standing on the table, is a tall man with neat dark hair and a round face. He looks to be in his late thirties. He has hazel eyes and is wearing crimson robes. In his hand is a sheet of parchment and a stick. He is a little round on the belly and wore a small, but comforting smile. He hopped of the table and brushed the dust off his clothes.

"What-" Dad started but the man cut him off.

"Sorry about that!" The man said. He's got an English accent. Isn't Harry Potter set in England...

"Never been the best at Apparating but," He looked at his hands as in to check that he didn't leave a fingernail behind. "I made it all in one piece." The man turned to Mum, "If you don't mind, could you please put on a cup of tea for me. Apparating from Scotland hasn't been easy." As if Mum was terrified of the man, she bustled of into the kitchen, preoccupying herself with the man's request but still listening to the conversation.

"Um, excuse me," I say softly to the man.

"Yes? The man asks kindly.

"Um, who are you?"

The man starts to laugh. "Dear me! I haven't even introduced myself. Sorry about that!" He adds to my parents. "I'm Neville Longbottom, but you," He points at me. "will know me as Professor Longbottom, Herbology teacher and Head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts." He says proudly. "But you would know a bit about Hogwarts, after reading your letter. Elizabeth, is it?"