What Goes Around Comes Around

"Minerva McGonagall?"

Andrew paused. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't be sure. McGonagall wasn't exactly an uncommon surname.

I'll think about that name later. Right now, I need to deal with applying to school.

His writing paid fairly well, but the money made him uneasy. He didn't know enough about the law in England. In fact, no one at the orphanage knew much about it.

There were professional writers whose identities were public, but he wasn't sure whether a minor's writing would be scrutinized—or whether he might even be sent to a special school. How was an ordinary person supposed to know about things like that?

If it really is a special school, how do I get past their screening?

Put someone else's name on my work?

He was sure someone would agree to take the credit, but arranging it in a rush could lead to disputes over money later. His pen name was established, and his royalties were substantial.

Finding someone trustworthy was too hard. The children at the orphanage couldn't keep a secret, and the best he could expect from the other residents was that they wouldn't ask about the money. He could forget about getting any of them to take the credit.

But if I find someone outside the orphanage...

Wait... Andrew suddenly realized where his thinking had gone wrong.

Why am I afraid of a special school?

It would be nothing more than a group of staff and students. From what he'd learned about Telekinesis, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage against the students even now. As for the staff, if they weren't scum, there was nothing to fear. If they were, the profits from his writing would make them choose another target. And if they were worse than that—well, he couldn't say whether tomorrow or an accident would come first.

With that settled, he had nothing to worry about.

Bring it on.

"Written down by the Quill of Acceptance three months ago..."

Minerva McGonagall walked along a road that looked as though it hadn't been maintained in years and checked the name on her list one last time.

The Quill of Acceptance checked children born within the British Wizarding world until they turned twelve. The Book of Admittance, however, would not allow the quill to write down a child's name until that child showed sufficient talent.

Barring any special circumstances, the child would then receive an acceptance letter from Hogwarts. If the child came from a Muggle family, a Hogwarts professor would visit in person to guide them.

That was how admission to Hogwarts worked. The Book of Admittance and the Quill of Acceptance had been at work since the Four Founders established the school, and Hogwarts had never admitted anyone whose name was absent from the book.

"No Ministry of Magic staff were drawn here, which means his magic must not have been very conspicuous... But at least he made it in time..."

Professor McGonagall was even a little happy for the boy. If a child's magic did not manifest until after the age of twelve, even one from a wizarding family might miss out on a proper education. They might even go through life as a Squib.

And since this boy lived in Muggle society, failing to enter Hogwarts might mean he would never encounter magic at all.

"This is the place." She looked at the weathered wooden sign. Before her stood a secluded compound surrounded by a high fence, with an old building inside.

Professor McGonagall knocked, and a woman in an apron soon led her into the Entrance Hall.

"You're Ms. McGonagall?"

Mrs. Camille hurried over with a sturdy willow switch still in her hand. Judging by the damage to its bark, some lucky child had recently made its close acquaintance.

"Yes, Mrs. Camille. I wrote yesterday to explain why I was coming. I'm here for Andrew Taylor."

"Of course. This way, please."

Only when Mrs. Camille gestured did she realize she was still holding the switch. She glanced at it and lowered it to her side.

"Sorry, it's been a hectic day. Those boys are naughtier than you'd imagine." She sighed. "The sisters are too gentle with them. Someone has to be the one they're afraid of."

"Indeed." Professor McGonagall nodded, her expression turning rueful. "They always find ways to misbehave that you'd never imagine."

The two women felt less like strangers now. In the warmer atmosphere, Professor McGonagall was shown into a reasonably tidy office. The mismatched furniture and sparse decorations, however, made its occupant's poverty plain.

"Please, sit down, Ms. McGonagall. You said you came about young Andrew, but as far as I know, he hasn't applied to any schools. I've only just finished writing his letter of recommendation for the school he intends to apply to."

"No, he hasn't applied. But our school has discovered that he possesses certain qualities we look for, so I've come to invite him to study with us."

"Your school?"

Mrs. Camille studied Professor McGonagall across the room.

"Yes, our school. I'm a professor there."

"Then"—Mrs. Camille's gaze sharpened—"what sort of school is it?"

"It's called Hogwarts. We enroll students with particular talents."

"I don't think that's necessary at all." Mrs. Camille's voice turned cold. "Young Andrew is an excellent child. He may be too old to be adopted now, but his... knowledge and manners are more than good enough. He'll do well at a state secondary school, then go on to a good university and live up to everyone's hopes."

"So I won't agree to send him to a special school, Professor McGonagall," Mrs. Camille said firmly. "Please leave."

Professor McGonagall was surprised, but she quickly took out a blank piece of parchment, tapped it lightly, and handed it to Mrs. Camille.

"Not a special school, and you have proper procedures and documentation?"

Mrs. Camille examined the blank parchment as though it bore a host of official stamps.

"Well..."

She hesitated. "It does seem that Hogwarts is a legitimate school. In that case, I'll let young Andrew decide for himself."

That was not quite what Professor McGonagall had expected, but she needed to meet him anyway. Given his background, she would have to show him the way to Diagon Alley and introduce him to the Wizarding world. She would also need to help him buy all his required books and a Wand, and give him a ticket for the Hogwarts Express.

"Then let's go, Mrs. Camille. I think he'll like Hogwarts."