Cheeeeekin!
Now do one with a wizards hat.
Later that day ...
"Well", paul thought to himself, "I guess I <i>am</i> Minister of Magic after all - maybe I should ring old Albus over at Hogwarts and see if he'll let the chicken join the school. Paul picked up the telephone wondering what Dumbledore's reaction would be. He dialed the Hogwarts Schoolmaster's direct number and heard the ringing tone. It rang four times and then Paul heard the familiar voice of Dumbledore.
"Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry" it said.
"Hello Albus, Paul here from the Ministry"
"Oh, hello there, Paul, good to hear from one of the few ministers I've never wanted to turn into a frog!"
Paul laughed - he felt lucky to be able to class Albus as a friend. He just wished that he had more time to visit Dumbledore more often, but work at the ministry kept piling up so much that he'd almost lost touch with old Albus.
"How are things going, Albus, said Paul"
"Oh, as hectic as ever - we've got an end of term Quidditch match between Gryfindor and Ravencaw in about 15 minutes, so all the school is quite a hubbub today"
"Oh, I guess I'd better make it short then, Albus", said Paul. "I was just wondering whether you'd have room for a new student next term"
"Well yes, said Dumbledore", unfortunately we had to expel a couple of students earlier this month for levitating Hagrid over the Hufflepuff tower. A terrible thing, the poor chap was afraid to go out of his hut for weeks."
"I'm so sorry to hear that" said Paul, "He's such a likable chap and always friendly to the students."
"I know, it's just awful, anyway we won't be having any more of that - those involved have been thrown out of Hogwarts for good. Fortunately Hagrid is back to his own cheerful self again, so things are back to normal here - at least as normal as they get at Hogwarts!"
Paul smiled. "Well, I know of this really eager individual who would really love to join the school. Someone who's smart, and very alert. There's only one thing though - it's um...a chicken."
"A chicken, eh"
"Yes, an arctic chicken to be precise"
"Hmmm, an arctic one - well, I've always quite liked cold chicken."
Paul detected a harmless mischievousness in Albus's voice.
"Yes, but please, no eating this one" said Paul, knowing that it wasn't really necessary to say, but playing along with Albus's joke.
Albus laughed, "No, I promise we'll take very good care of our new pupil, and make sure no harm comes to our little arctic chicken."
"Does that mean it's got a place at Hogwarts?" said Paul expectantly?
"Why yes, of course." said Albus.
Paul smiled enormously "Albus, you're wonderful! I can't thank you enough."
"No thanks needed." said Dumbledore "Just great to hear from an old friend again. You must come down to Hogwarts soon to see how the place is going. And you've got no excuse not to now, after all, you must keep an interest and see how your chicken is doing some time."
"You're right" said Paul "I'll be sure to pop down there really soon".
"I'll look forward to seeing you" said Albus.
"You too", said Paul, "enjoy the Quidditch match".
"Thanks, I will, and I'll look forward to meeting our new student."
"Thanks again, and bye for now" said Paul.
"Bye and see you soon" said Albus
The phone clicked and Paul put his own receiver down too. It was nice to have spoken to Albus again and great to know the chicken would have a place at Hogwarts next term. Now to tell the chicken the good news!
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And so ... the chicken became a Hogwarts student ...
Hurra!!!
