The Acceptance Letter

"Surely no one actually ate an owl?"

Dumbledore saw that McGonagall wasn't smiling in the slightest, and his heart gave a little lurch. Fortunately, McGonagall quickly shook her head.

"You guessed wrong, Dumbledore. There really was a mistake at Hogwarts! Just a moment ago, the Quill of Acceptance wrote another name in the Book of Admittance, and that child is one of this year's new students!"

Hearing Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore let out a long breath of relief and said unconcernedly, "I see, Professor McGonagall. That's all right. There's still plenty of time before the start of term. We can send the student an owl now, and it'll arrive in time. At most, we can cast a spell to make the owl fly faster. Nothing will be delayed!"

As he spoke, Dumbledore seemed to feel that the iced lemonade in his hand wasn't sweet enough. He produced some honey from who knew where and stirred it in, then gestured to Professor McGonagall, asking if she'd like some honey too.

Professor McGonagall indicated that she didn't, keeping her eyes fixed on Dumbledore as she said meaningfully, "Dumbledore, the problem isn't the timing. It's the person. You know this child's family, too!"

At that, Dumbledore smiled and replied casually, "Ha, Professor McGonagall, you know how it is. The longer you live, the more people you meet. I wonder, which old friend's child is it?"

"They haven't received an owl all this time, so their family must be terrified. Poor child! When he gets to Hogwarts, I'll make sure to give him a proper welcome!"

Dumbledore gently stirred the iced lemonade in front of him and was just about to take a sip.

"The child's name is Wentworth. Wentworth Grindelwald!"

Dumbledore's hand stopped in midair. He stared blankly ahead, and the iced lemonade floating in front of Professor McGonagall would have spilled onto the floor if she hadn't been quick enough to catch it.

Seeing Dumbledore's dazed expression, McGonagall suddenly felt much better. She slowly raised her glass of iced lemonade and savored it.

"Grindelwald? When did he have a child?"

Dumbledore murmured to himself, unable to believe it.

Realizing Dumbledore seemed to have misunderstood, McGonagall quickly explained, "No, he's a descendant of that man's younger brother, not his child! But they're all members of the Grindelwald Family, aren't they? If people found out that we'd accepted one of his descendants into Hogwarts, then..."

Before McGonagall could voice her concerns, Dumbledore cut in with an unequivocal order. "Write the letter, Professor McGonagall. Every child whose name is recorded will receive an acceptance letter from Hogwarts, no matter who they are. It's been that way for a thousand years, and it won't change because of who their family is!"

"His family can choose to let him give up on studying at Hogwarts, but we can't keep them from knowing he was accepted!"

Hearing Dumbledore's words, Professor McGonagall paused, then nodded thoughtfully.

"Very well, Dumbledore. I'll have an owl deliver the letter at once, and cast a spell to make it fly faster. Hopefully, we'll get a reply soon."

After Professor McGonagall left, only Dumbledore and the many former headmasters hanging on the walls remained in the Headmaster's Office.

The portraits had heard what McGonagall said, too, and were now discussing it among themselves.

However, the former headmasters were unanimous in their opinion. They all approved of Dumbledore's decision, believing that Hogwarts would never change its ways because of a student's identity or background. Hogwarts's traditions were its pride.

Dumbledore ignored the chattering portraits behind him and stood alone before the Pensieve in the Headmaster's Office, lost in thought. After a long while, he murmured, "Gellert, did you foresee this day?"

By then, an owl had already flown to Wentworth's window. Its sudden arrival startled everyone in the room, but they all immediately guessed what it had brought. They went wild with excitement.

Wentworth was about to rush over, overjoyed, and open the window to let the owl in. But after only two steps, he saw the window shatter to the floor with a crash. The owl was then drawn into the room against its will, where Rosier caught it in one hand.

Rosier didn't bother with elegance. She roughly tore the letter from the owl, then tossed the bird aside and gathered with the other elderly people behind her to read the letter carefully.

Only Wentworth remained in the room, standing helplessly where he was, looking rather forlorn.

Oh, and there was also the owl, still waiting for Wentworth's reply. But with corpses everywhere, killed by Avada Kedavra, it was utterly terrified.

The boy and the bird looked at each other. The cold night wind blew in through the shattered window, ruffling the boy's hair and the owl's feathers. The atmosphere was awkward.

Rosier quickly skimmed the letter. Just as everyone had expected, it was an acceptance letter from Hogwarts. But when Rosier saw the long list of titles beneath Dumbledore's name, disdain appeared in her eyes.

"This acceptance letter is so utterly bland and lifeless, just like Dumbledore's Hogwarts. It looks like it won't be long before Durmstrang becomes the undisputed best school of magic!"

"Hey, you should know that the best school of magic in the world is actually called Ilvermorny!"

Ignoring the others as they argued, Rosier called Wentworth over and handed him the Hogwarts acceptance letter. Although she was deeply dissatisfied with Dumbledore's name on it, she still spoke gently to Wentworth. "Take a good look, Wentworth. A whole new world is opening its doors to you. This is a day to remember, isn't it?"

Wentworth took the acceptance letter from Rosier with trembling hands. He already knew its contents by heart.

But seeing the shield on the envelope for himself, emblazoned with a lion, an eagle, a snake, and a honey badger, left him too excited for words!

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, President of the International Confederation of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Grindelwald,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of the books and items you will need.

The term begins on September 1. We will await your owl bearing your reply no later than July 31.

Deputy Headmistress

Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall