Special Rules for Special People?

“Ha! Take that, Charlie! Ooof!” Nymphadora missed getting bludgered by Bill only because she’d fallen off her broom of her own accord. Luckily, the ground couldn’t get too far away on toy broomsticks. The twins giggled as six-year-olds are wont to do when someone falls down. Tonks blushed, and her hair turned red as did her cheeks.

“Dora, what happened to your hair?” Percy was deeply involved in some Muggle game called Risk, but looked up when the Fred snorted. Dora burst into tears and ran into the house, slipping on the snow as she went. Molly Weasley looked up from her conversation with Andromeda and saw the commotion. She scooped up the hysterical child and coddled her. Andromeda knew from the color of Nymphadora’s hair what had likely happened. Her daughter couldn’t quite control her magic yet, and that applied to her appearance as well.

“I fell off my broom and Gred and Forge made fun of me! I’d like to see them get knocked off a broom.” Nymphadora could manage an exceptional pout. Molly lifted her head and was about to summon her long-suffering twin boys, but Andromeda intervened. She would not have a child that couldn’t handle a little mocking without running to tattle. The child was eleven in three days time, after all.

“Well, Nymphadora, what are your options? You can sit in here with us boring old moms, or you can go knock the laughter out of them.” Molly looked horrified at the thought. “Don’t worry, Molly, they can’t hurt other that badly. They’re children, and children will scrap.” Nymphadora smiled and headed out to go scuffle with the boys. As she ran, she suddenly popped from her normal small size to the size a half-giant would be at her age. Let those mean old twins mess with her now! Molly and Andromeda had just returned to their conversations of self-stirring cauldrons and their effect on food when the noise of children scuffling died. The two women looked at each other for half a glance and bolted toward the door. That many children suddenly silenced could not be a good sign. The sight that met their eyes was that of Charlie and Nymphadora holding their Hogwarts letters. Charlie was reading his with little surprise and interest, but Nymphadora looked confused. She held it up to her mother, who read the general letter with no surprise, but then arrived at the postscript.

PS- I am sure that you have by know realized your child’s special condition. While Hogwarts has always accepted all children regardless of background or magical specialties, I’m afraid that your child will have additional rules to follow, specific to his or her needs. A list of staff members and which students they advise on these delicate matters is enclosed. Please instruct your child to report to this staff member within a week of arriving at Hogwarts.

Andromeda scanned the list. Metamorphism was not a handicap, and having it referred to as something that must be additionally controlled and specifically enforced incensed her. Her daughter was not a freak or a curiosity. She was a beautiful child with a spectacular ability. Nostrils flaring, she scanned the list: Poppy Pomfrey, werewolves; Rubeus Hagrid, half-giants; Filius Flitwick, children with Goblin Ancestry; Minerva McGonagall, children born with natural Animagi strengths; Pomona Sprout, children with one or more Squib parents; and Rolanda Hooch, Metamorphagi. The fact that so many children must have special rules did not quell her anger.

“Mum, does that mean I can’t go to Hogwarts? I promise, I’ll learn to control my hair by then! I promise! Just let me go to Hogwarts!” Nymphadora struggled to hold back tears. Ever since Bill had come back from his first year at Hogwarts, both Nymphadora and Charlie had been awaiting their birthday letters. They sometimes had even pretended Hogwarts School, acting out some of Bill’s stories.

Andromeda pulled herself to her full, although diminutive height. She knew Rolanda Hooch personally, and would not wait another six months to find out just what “special rules” the school intended to force upon her daughter. They would go now. “Nymphadora, you are going to Hogwarts. We shall go speak with Ms. Hooch right now, if you’d like.” Nymphadora liked Rolanda Hooch very much, as Rolanda was a Metamorphagus herself. They were currently the only Metamorphagi in Great Britain. Nymphadora nodded and moved to hang onto her mother’s leg for Side-Along Apparation. Andromeda said her good-byes and apologized for a sudden departure, but some things must be dealt with immediately. Molly nodded and gathered her brood to avoid Splinching.