Chapter Text
It was summertime, and unlike the other 364 days of the year, it was a special day. His father was home (a rarity these days), and there were no more boring exams or stuffy uniforms to dampen Ralph’s spirits. The old nanny had been sent off with a generous packet and warm wishes for the summer holiday, leaving behind a cake for Ralph and his father to share.
It was Ralph’s eleventh birthday, and he had become a man. With his father out serving the country, it was the least he could do. “Your father needs you”, he silently repeated, recalling the officer’s words only 3 months ago. “Your father needs you.”
“Son,” His father smiled, sliding two wrapped packages across the table. “A gift from me, and the other…your mother”. His eyes faintly glistened.
“Thank you father.”
“I thought it best to give you something useful when you’re off at school. Something responsible. You’re no longer a little kid after all.”
Ralph opened the first box, a pocket-knife, engraved with his mother’s name. He flicked it open, the blade gleaming in the light, the polished wood handle weighing solidly in his palm; the weight of an adult sort of pride in his heart.
He turned to the second gift and gingerly unwrapped the twine and paper, revealing a small jewelry box. He opened it, lifting a silver chain and simple locket, his mother’s face revealed in the inner compartment.
“I know it’s not something a boy your age would have but it was one of your mother’s favorites and well…” His father frowned slightly, “Well you don’t need to wear it, but at least bring it with you…”
“I love it.” Ralph interrupted, slipping it over his head. “She’ll always be with me.” He promised. His father smiled.
By the time the cake had been put away, the table wiped clean of crumbs and frosting, there was a knock on the door. His smile faltered, a nervous expectation of a Navy Officer coming to collect his father early becoming solemn acceptance. When his father opened the door however, they were not greeted by insignia of anchor and crown nor epaulettes and gold buttons upon crisp white panels of cotton.
What stood in front of them was a woman dressed in peculiar garb; an emerald green sort of…cloak. It swept the floor, her sleeves long and swishing as she spoke.
“Hello, I am Professor McGonagall. I am the Deputy Headmistress and a teacher at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
“Wizardry?” Ralph’s father interrupted, a laugh escaping before he covered it with a cough. “I’m sorry Ma’am, I’m not sure why you’re here, but please do excuse us, this is a private residence–”
“Mr. Allebach, our records show that your son possesses innate magical ability, which we hope to cultivate by enrolling him at our school.” She handed Ralph a letter that he instinctively grabbed. He looked down, bewildered, at the thick red seal, embossed with a sort of crest, a printed “H” staring back at him.
At first, Ralph and his father could only laugh as she began to speak about fantastical things, magic and wizards and a castle and…and education of all things. Him a wizard? Magic? What nonsense. However, as she kept explaining, they couldn’t help but pass through several shades of amusement, then incredulity, then hesitance, and finally, with no other choice, total surrender. Well, the fancy stick in her hand that compelled the dishes to wash themselves quickly rendered any further notions of disbelief useless. She even turned into a cat!
As their shadows started to stretch and a cool breeze drifted in through the open window, Ralph’s father and Professor McGonagall began sincere talk of logistics and his studies. Certainly the idea of an almost year-round boarding school eased the worry his father felt for his own upcoming departure. As they spoke, Ralph’s heart began to pound, his hands shaking as his fingers traced the ink inscribed on the letter:
Dear Mr Allebach,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
There was no need to contemplate, it was for his father’s sake, Ralph thought. To lessen the burden that is a child upon his father, it was to be a man, and Ralph was a man now. Fine, he’d admit it, he also was, well, excited. It was as if he’d taken in a large breath of air into his lungs, or threw himself down a hill, rolling until his vision blurred, or jumped cannon-ball style into water. He felt like he had just been let in on a special secret, or a classified mission from the military. He felt as though the world had grown a bit bigger, but he would soon grow with it, more unknown, but he would soon know it. He would take his place in the world and become a great man, a responsible man. His mother’s face appeared in his thoughts. A good man, he promised. He would be great and responsible, but above all else, he would be good.
As the stars began twinkling in the heavens and Ralph’s eyes began to droop with the weight of exhaustion, Professor Mcgonagall bid them farewell, promising a deputy of the school would return soon to facilitate Ralph’s transition to Hogwarts; to the magical world. This deputy would take them to some place called Diagon Alley and then provide instructions for him to get to school a month later. His father would be deployed by then, but at least he would be able to accompany Ralph when getting his school supplies. Ralph presumed this was the first time he was actually looking forward to school.
After she left, the night ended quickly, the father-son pair too stunned from the day’s events to say much more. Ralph lay beneath his covers, flashlight in one hand as his eyes read then reread over and over the letter in his other. Magic existed. He was magic.
He folded up the letter and stuffed it under his pillow, alongside his new pocket-knife, turned the flashlight off and rolled over, shutting his tired eyes. His fingers reached for the locket that hung around his neck. With one hand clasped over his heart, Ralph fell asleep.