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How was Harry supposed to reply to his first year's letter from Hogwarts?


As a follow-up of this question (quote stolen from the answer with bolded text from me)



Dear Mr Potter, We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July. Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress



Assuming that the Dursleys were not complete jerks - they just explain Harry that he is a wizard and stuff.


All good and nice but ... how is Harry supposed to get an owl and answer? The Dursleys cannot buy him one even if they wanted to. Muggle-born students get a visit from a Hogwarts staff member, who explains the situation but this does not seem to be the case. Harry just received a letter. He cannot use the same owl that delivered the letter because the first letter was delivered like a normal one in the mail box.




Answer



Harry is a bit of a special case, since he was born to a witch and wizard (James and Lily Potter), but was raised by Muggles. It seems that he received the version of the letter intended for children born to witches and wizards (which he was). Those families would, of course, have an owl of their own or know where to go in order to send one.


Unlike regular Muggleborns, Hagrid doesn't turn up to explain the things that are normally explained to them, because Harry is assumed to already know all of those things. Hagrid is shocked (and then angry) when he learns that Harry doesn't know "anything". Hagrid is only sent when it becomes clear that Harry wasn't receiving his letters (though it's never explained how they knew that).


We know from Snape's memories in Deathly Hallows that letters sent via the Muggle post can reach Hogwarts, so for Muggle families written confirmation can be sent using a method they're already familiar with.


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