Hairy Potter-Addams and the Philosopher's Stone: An Altogether Ooky Tale

Letters from Hogwarts

In the summer of 1989, Morticia gave birth to the Addams' youngest child, Pubert. Sibling rivalry between Wednesday and Pugsley ensued bitterly for several days. They left Hairy out of their argument that if a third child was born, one of the current children had to die. It was the first time Hairy was aware of his status as a foster son. After this, he spent more time seancing with James and Lily over the following weeks. The time with them helped secure his decision to attend Hogwarts, which greatly pleased Gomez and Morticia.

The year Pugsley and Hairy were set to turn eleven, the Addams house buzzed with anticipation. In February, Pugsley checked the mail every day, expecting his Ilvermorny acceptance letter. Grandmama, who was never much good at Quidditch, passed her broomstick down to the boys for Christmas. Pugsley's eleventh birthday came and went. Morticia and Gomez announced their intention to take the family on a five-week holiday at the end of July and through August. The older brothers would get all their school supplies from Diagon Alley, in Britain. The announcement came in mid-March, a little over a month after Pugsley's eleventh birthday. Still no letter.

A week later, the boys took Grandmama's old broom out to practice flying (under Morticia's supervision and instruction). Pugsley couldn't get it to obey him.

With a frightened look on his face and a voice that suggested he was on the verge of tears, Pugsley looked at Morticia and said, "Mother, my letter isn't coming, is it?" Morticia couldn't meet his eyes; Pugsley sprinted back to the house.

Morticia called out after him, but it did no good. She turned to Hairy. "Don't breathe a word of this to anyone, and don't touch that broom until I get back."

Hairy picked up the broom. "We're not flying today, are we? Pugsley is more important right now."

"Agreed. Let's go."

Hairy met with James and Lily the next day and told them what happened. "I've never heard of someone whose parents are magical not being able to do magic."

Lily answered him. Hairy loved his birth mother's voice. It was strong and gentle all at once. He liked to believe he could remember her voice without a seance, but he knew that wasn't true. Lily said, "It's not especially common, but it can happen. Non-magical children of magical parents are called Squibs in the UK. I don't know what you'd call them in New Jersey."

"I know that non-magical people are No-Majs here," said Hairy, "but you call them Muggles."

James's lighthearted tone came next. Hairy usually did his meetings with his photo album in front of him. He liked to look at his parents' pictures when they spoke. Now he turned to the photo of his birth parents when they were newly engaged. "Harry, you're Pugsley's brother. He'll need you. He might not be able to do magic himself, but magic has left its fingerprints all over him. There's a way to communicate using Floo powder, almost like a telephone call--but don't you dare try it without an adult present first! And, of course, there's always letters and owl post. You might be in Hogwarts, but you'll always be close by to Pugsley."

Hairy hesitated. "About that...Maybe I should commit to Ilvermorny. If Pugsley needs me like he does, isn't it better that I'm in America?"

"He needs your comfort and your kindness, son, not for you to shoot yourself in the foot as far as your education goes."

"Oh, Wednesday did that to me last week. I'm just fine now. I could walk on it by the next morning."

Lily sounded concerned. "Wednesday did what?"

"Shot me in the foot during archery practice. I was standing on my head, holding an apple between my feet, and, well..."

The specters of the Potters were quiet; Hairy wondered if perhaps they'd lost the connection. Then Lily said, "I'll never get used to you saying things like that so casually. I keep thinking I will, and then I don't."