Gideon Drake and the Fire Within (Harry Potter Sequel/Spinoff)

Chapter Fifteen: Acceptance

Gideon had to read the letter several times before he could fully comprehend it. He turned the discarded envelope over in his hands. On one side, the Hogwarts seal, which he had broken without a glance. On the other, his name, definitely his name, and below it his former address.

Was it real? Did Hogwarts want him? Or was it a joke of some sort? No, it couldn't be a joke. Sending a Squib a Hogwarts acceptance letter would be cruel if it weren't so obviously a mistake. A very silly, very annoying mistake. On the off chance it was genuine, he had missed the deadline to confirm his place anyway. The letter must have arrived at Maxwell Manor while he was in the hospital.

Gideon was suddenly angry. If the letter was real, how could his father have held on to it all this time? Hadn't he hurt Gideon enough? Gideon placed the letter down carefully and pulled on a fresh set of clothes, barely taking his eyes off it as he dressed for fear it might disappear.

'Oh, there you are, Gideon,' said his aunt as he entered the living room carrying the letter and envelope, 'tea's almost ready. What's the matter?'

'Did you know about this, Caroline?' he asked.

'Know about what? Oh, what's happened to your bandages?' she replied.

'Oh, never mind that. This letter—from Hogwarts—didn't you see the seal?' he pivoted.

'From Hogwarts?' she asked, leaving the stove, her curiosity piqued.

'Yes. I-it's an acceptance letter. F-for me,' said Gideon, begrudgingly passing it to his aunt as she whipped out her wand and magically dried his bandages.

'Oh, I didn't notice the seal. Well, this is wonderful news! Congratulations, Gideon!'

Gideon was flabbergasted. His aunt seemed to have accepted things so easily. 'B-But I'm a Squib! Isn't it...? Don't you think it's a mistake?' he pressed.

'Hogwarts don't tend to make mistakes, Gideon, especially not when it comes to who attends the school. There's a special system for it.'

'It doesn't matter anyway; I've missed the deadline.'

'Well, that's not your fault, it's that brother of mine who's to blame. I'll send one of the Prophet owls to explain when I get to work tomorrow. They'll understand,' she assured him while tightening his bandages with her wand. 'If everything's okay, we'll go to Diagon Alley after your check-up at St Mungo's on Saturday.'

Aunt Caroline's cool and casual manner confused Gideon. He was sure she would have said something to confirm his fears. Instead, she had alleviated them and left him hopeful. Given everything he was going through, hope could be a dangerous thing right now. If he allowed himself to believe the letter was real, only to have it taken away from him, he wasn't sure he would be able to handle it.

'Right, tea should be ready now,' said Caroline. Gideon folded his letter carefully, slid it back into its envelope and took a seat at the kitchen table. He watched in awe as his aunt used her wand to dish out crockery and cutlery, and serve the meal before a block of cheese grated itself over each of their plates.

'What's funny?' said Caroline as she sat down, noticing Gideon's grin.

'I'm just not used to seeing magic used so openly,' he answered. 'I think the family used to hold back for my benefit.'

'Well, no need for that anymore, eh?' Caroline commented.

Gideon couldn't accept that just yet. Instead, between mouthfuls of spaghetti, he wondered things like what would happen if he couldn't do any magic once he got to Hogwarts. Would they expel him? He might be able to fake his way through levitation lessons using his channelling rod, but he would get found out eventually.