The package of papers provided far more detail than McGonagall's overview.
Information about the Ministry's structure, about the wizarding society's customs, and about the dangers of the magical world. All mentioned in various pamphlets with colorful moving pictures that his parents couldn't stop looking at. All of them went through all the documents one by one as they discussed and talked about what was mentioned in them.
It was rather impressive, the detail with which they introduced the magical world to Muggle-borns.
The first pamphlet was a general introduction to the wizarding world.
So You Are Magical: An Introductory Explanation for Families
Magic is an innate trait present in a small portion of the human population. It is neither contagious nor inherited exclusively through family lines.
Children born with magical ability may display accidental magic, particularly during moments of emotional distress, excitement, fear, or fatigue. Such incidents are unintentional and not indicative of poor discipline or psychological abnormality.
Examples may include:
Sudden movement of objects
Electrical disturbances
Breakage of glass or small items
Environmental reactions to heightened emotion
These events decrease significantly once formal magical education begins.
Yara read this section twice, her finger tracing the lines. "That car accident," she said quietly. "When James was five. This explains it."
Another rather detailed pamphlet gave general information about Hogwarts.
Hogwarts: An Institutional Overview
Founded over one thousand years ago, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the primary magical educational institution serving the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The location of Hogwarts Castle is protected by legal and magical concealments (Unplottability, Muggle-Repelling Charms, and Fiduciary Wards).
Health, Safety, and Student Welfare
Hogwarts maintains:
A full-time medical wing staffed by a certified healer
Faculty trained to handle magical emergencies
Protective enchantments covering all student areas
While certain subjects involve controlled risk, serious injury remains statistically rare. Parents will be notified immediately of any major medical incident.
"Controlled risk," Yara repeated, her motherly instincts immediately picking up on the careful phrasing. "They're admitting there's danger."
"It's a school for magic, love," Michael said reasonably. "I imagine there's inherent risk in learning to transform things into animals or brew potions."
"Still," Yara frowned. "I'd like more specifics about what 'controlled risk' means."
Curriculum & Academic Structure
Students attend Hogwarts for seven academic years.
Compulsory subjects (Years 1–5) include:
Transfiguration
Charms
Potions
Herbology
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Astronomy
History of Magic
Electives become available from Year 3 onward.
Formal examinations (O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s) are administered under Ministry oversight.
Michael read the subject list with interest. Defence Against the Dark Arts. So the Dark magic was real enough that students needed to learn to defend against it. The name alone implied a whole category of magic that was considered dangerous or forbidden.
Financial & Resource Assistance
No student is denied education due to financial hardship.
Families requiring assistance may discreetly apply for:
Tuition waiversTextbook grantsEquipment loans
All such matters are handled confidentially by Gringotts Wizarding Bank in cooperation with Hogwarts administration.
"That's good, at least," Michael noted. "They ensure no child is left behind due to poverty."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my child dangerous?
No. Magical ability is neutral. Education ensures control and safety.
Is Hogwarts compulsory?
Attendance is strongly encouraged. Alternative approved instruction requires Ministry certification.
Can magic be removed?
No.
Will my memory be altered?
No. Memory modification is used only to protect secrecy in exceptional circumstances.
What if something happens before term begins?
Minor incidents are common. Serious disturbances should be reported to the enclosed Ministry contact.
Attendance is strongly advised and, under wizarding law, education in magical control is considered a public safety matter.
"Strongly encouraged," Michael murmured, his lawyer's eye catching the careful phrasing. "Not mandatory, but strongly encouraged. Interesting."
There was also a rather legal and official looking document sharing the seals of the British Ministry of Magic and the ICW.
Statute of Secrecy: Legal Obligations
Issued under the authority of the International Confederation of Wizards (ICW)
Under the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy (1692), all magical citizens are required to conceal the existence of magic from the non-magical population.
Upon receiving the letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Muggleborn students are thereafter recognized as full citizens of Magical Britain and shall fall primarily under the legal jurisdiction of wizarding law and governance, with applicable Muggle statutes considered secondary where superseded by established magical regulations.
Michael stopped reading, his eyes narrowing. "Wait. What?"
For Muggleborn students and their families:
Disclosure of magical matters to non-authorized individuals is prohibited.
Accidental breaches will be mitigated by the Ministry when reported promptly
Intentional violations may result in legal penalties
This obligation applies for life.
Parental Consent & Acknowledgement Form
(Signature prints itself when read by a guardian)
By reading below, the undersigned acknowledges:
Awareness of the student's magical status
Consent for participation in magical education
Acceptance of statutory secrecy obligations
Understanding that accidental magic prior to school age is not harmful but unmanaged
Signature of Parent / Guardian: ______________________Date: ______________________
As they finished reading the document, golden light suddenly flared from the parchment. Michael and Yara both jerked back in surprise as their own signatures appeared on the signature line, forming their names in flowing letters.
Beside each signature, today's date materialized: 1st November 1991.
The entire document glowed briefly, then settled back to normal parchment, the signatures now permanent and official-looking.
Michael released a sharp breath, his face pale. "It's good that we agreed," he said slowly, carefully, "because it looks like we don't have a choice in sending you off to Hogwarts."
"What do you mean?" Yara asked, her hand still hovering over the document where her signature had appeared without her writing it.
Michael tapped the relevant section with one finger, his lawyer's mind already analyzing the implications. "This. 'Upon receiving the letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Muggleborn students are thereafter recognized as full citizens of Magical Britain.' James became a citizen of their world the moment Professor McGonagall handed him that letter."
"But..." Yara looked confused. "They said attendance is strongly encouraged, not mandatory."
"That's what they imply," Michael agreed, his voice tight. "They carefully phrase it to sound like a choice. But look at the legal structure. James is now primarily under wizarding law. Muggle statutes are considered secondary. And they specifically state that education in magical control is 'a public safety matter.'"
He looked at James, his expression troubled. "I'd wager that if we tried to refuse, they'd have legal grounds to compel attendance. That's probably why the professor gave the letter directly to you, James. Not to us."
James felt a chill run down his spine. He'd wanted to go to Hogwarts, had been desperate for his letter to arrive. But knowing he'd essentially been conscripted into their society the moment he touched that envelope was unsettling.
"They don't say it clearly," Michael continued, running his hand through his hair in agitation. "They bury it in legal language, make it sound optional. But the moment that letter changed hands, James stopped being solely our son under British law. He became a wizard under their jurisdiction."
"That's..." mum's composure cracked slightly. "That's essentially kidnapping. They're taking our child and we have no say in the matter?"
"We do have a say," Michael said, though his voice lacked conviction. "We could theoretically pursue alternative instruction with Ministry certification. But I doubt they'd make that easy. And given what we've read tonight about memory modification, which apparently is possible with magic and what we've seen tonight..." He gestured at the spot where McGonagall had made it rain indoors. "I doubt Muggle law enforcement could do anything even if we tried to fight this."
There was a heavy silence. James felt he should say something, break the tension that was building. "I want to learn magic," he said quietly. "I want to go to Hogwarts."
Both his parents looked at him. Michael's expression softened slightly. "I know," he said, his voice gentler. "You're going to Hogwarts."
It wasn't really a choice, but at least it aligned with what James wanted. Small comfort.
Yara picked up another pamphlet, clearly trying to move past the unsettling revelation. "We should finish reading these. If James is going into this world, we need to understand all of it."
FINAL NOTICE
The contents of this packet are enchanted to degrade if duplicated, copied, or removed from the possession of the intended household.
A detection charm will notify the Ministry of Magic in the event of unauthorized dissemination.
"They're serious about secrecy," Yara observed. "Enchanted documents that self-destruct if copied. Magical monitoring to prevent information leaks."
"Can't say I blame them," Michael admitted. "If the existence of magic became public knowledge, it would cause chaos. Mass panic, exploitation, and governments trying to weaponize it. Better to stay hidden."
They moved on to the Gringotts pamphlet, which provided detailed information about the wizarding bank and currency exchange.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank: Financial Services for Muggleborn Families
Currency Exchange Rates and Limitations
The current exchange rate is fixed at:
£100 (One Hundred Pounds Sterling) = 1 Galleon
1 Galleon = 100 Sickles
1 Sickle = 100 Knuts
Muggleborn students and their guardians may exchange up to 100 Galleons per year following receipt of a Hogwarts letter. This allowance resets annually on the student's birthday and does not carry forward. Unused exchange capacity expires and returns to the maximum of 100 Galleons.
Michael did the mathematics immediately. "Ten thousand pounds per year. That's not insignificant, but it's not unlimited wealth either."
"The professor mentioned that twenty Galleons would be sufficient for first years," Yara recalled. "And five Galleons in later years if we're careful."
"Still," Michael said, his expression thoughtful. "The fact that it doesn't roll over is important. If we don't use the full hundred Galleons this year, we lose that capacity permanently." He looked at James. "I want you to use your full currency conversion allowance every year. All hundred Galleons."
James blinked. "Dad, that's ten thousand pounds. I don't need that much."
"Maybe not immediately," Michael agreed. "But you're entering a world we don't understand, with rules we're just learning. Having financial resources available gives you options. You can buy extra books, better equipment, whatever you need to succeed." His voice softened.
"Your mother and I have worked hard to provide for you. You're going into a completely new world. Let us give you this advantage."
Mum nodded in agreement. "We can afford it, sweetie. And if it doesn't carry forward, we might as well give you the full amount now. You can save what you don't spend."
James felt something warm and tender bloom in his chest. Even now, faced with a world they didn't understand, his parents were planning how to give him the best possible advantages. Just to ensure he had every tool for success.
"Thank you," he said quietly, and meant it with everything he had.
Michael smiled, though it looked slightly strained. "We'll need to organize the cash. Ten thousand pounds is a substantial amount to carry around. I'll need to go to the bank tomorrow, make arrangements." He pulled out his ever-present legal pad and started making notes. "Saturday morning, ten AM. We'll need to be ready when Professor McGonagall arrives. Proper attire, cash secured, questions prepared."
"Should we tell anyone?" Yara asked. "Your parents? My family?"
"The secrecy agreement was pretty clear," Michael said. "And the document said intentional violations could result in legal penalties. I don't think we should risk it."
"So we just... lie? Tell them James is going to a prestigious boarding school?"
"It's not entirely a lie," Michael pointed out. "Hogwarts is a school. It is boarding. And it's certainly prestigious in its own world."
"Probably," Mum muttered under her breath.
They continued discussing logistics and details for another hour. James mostly listened, letting his parents process and plan. They needed this to feel like they had some control over a situation that had spiraled far beyond normal parental concerns.
Finally, well past midnight, Yara yawned. "I have to be at the hospital early tomorrow. We should all get some sleep."
"Saturday," Michael said, gathering the pamphlets carefully. "We'll see this Diagon Alley. We'll buy your supplies. We'll figure this out one step at a time."
They said their goodnights, though James doubted any of them would sleep well. He climbed the stairs to his room, his mind churning with everything that had happened.
His parents now knew he was magical. They'd accepted it with remarkable grace, all things considered. And in four days, he'd enter Diagon Alley for the first time, step into the wizarding world properly.
Everything was happening so fast now, after four years of careful preparation.
James lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Saturday. About wand shops and cauldrons, about banks run by goblins and shops that sold dragon hide gloves.
He thought about his parents' signatures appearing on that document without their consent, about how he'd been conscripted into wizarding society, whether anyone wanted it or not.
The wizarding world claimed its own, apparently. And now James Acton belonged to it.
For better or worse, his life in the Muggle world was ending. His life as a wizard was about to begin.
Saturday couldn't come fast enough.