Nelson Williams

"That's right, a school of magic." Dumbledore smiled at Tom. "Tom, you're a wizard."

"Magic?" Tom repeated softly. "Those abilities of mine... they're magic?"

"What abilities do you have?"

"All kinds!" Tom's tone grew excited. The feeling of being acknowledged, of finding others like himself, made his face flush with emotion. "I can make things far away fly to me through the air. I can understand snakes. And if I want to, I can make people I hate get hurt."

"That is not a good habit, Tom." Dumbledore's expression turned stern.

"I know, but you understand..."

"I think you should call me 'Professor' or 'sir.'" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow as he instructed Tom.

"Oh, all right, Professor..." Tom drawled dryly. "You wouldn't care about stepping on an ant, either."

"Tom, using magic on Muggles, let alone harming them, is not allowed. Besides, I would care very much if I stepped on an ant."

"All right, Professor, you really are a saint." Tom was clearly being perfunctory, but then, as though he had discovered a new continent, he asked excitedly, "You said 'Muggles'? Does that mean ordinary people? I knew there ought to be a different name for them—to distinguish them from extraordinary people like us."

"Yes, Tom, but I think you would be willing to attend Hogwarts—"

"Of course I would!"

"Then I think I ought to give you your first lesson. Though term has not yet begun, as your teacher, I should make you understand that you must never become indifferent to life." Dumbledore looked worriedly at the handsome, excited boy across from him, reminded of a dear friend from his past.

"I understand, I understand..." Tom's tone became even more dismissive. "Nal is always nagging me about that stuff."

"Nal?" There was a trace of surprise in Dumbledore's voice. "Mr. Nelson Williams? Tom, could you take me to him? I have something to give the two of you." Dumbledore rose to his feet. He was astonished by how quickly Tom had accepted the fact that he was a wizard; among young wizards who had never encountered the magical world, this was rare.

"I know where he is, but..." Tom stood as well. He tried to meet the adult wizard's eyes, but his gaze could only reach Dumbledore's purplish-red chest. "But can you prove you aren't a fraud? There are always traffickers trying to take advantage of loopholes at our orphanage."

Dumbledore nodded with interest, drew his wand from his pocket, and waved it at the chair he had just been sitting in. The shabby wooden chair turned into a luxurious sofa. With another wave of his wand, the sofa changed back into a chair. Tom stared at it without blinking. After a long while, he fixed his eyes on Dumbledore's wand. "Where can I get one?"

"You will have one," Dumbledore said. "Now then, take me to Mr. Nelson Williams, Tom."

The two walked out. Tom led the way. "Nal lives on the second floor, below my room, but he's sunbathing on the roof right now."

"Sunbathing?" Dumbledore looked through the corridor window at the sky outside. It was the most common sort of overcast day in the United Kingdom, accompanied by London's distinctive smog. "People really should get more sunlight." He seemed to be convincing himself.

When they reached the stairway, they happened to see a blond boy climbing down from the ladder leading to the skylight.

"Nal! Come here!" Tom called out to him.

Dumbledore studied the boy walking toward him. His features were gentler than those of the people around him in the United Kingdom. His pale blond hair was almost too pale, almost silver, and it reminded Dumbledore once more of that dear friend from his past. He shook his head, casting the stray thoughts from his mind, then smiled and nodded at Nelson. "You must be Mr. Nelson Williams! I am a teacher at a school called Hogwarts. I have come to invite you and Mr. Riddle to study there. You may call me Professor Dumbledore."

Nelson walked up to them and looked up at the young Dumbledore. "Just call me Nelson, Professor Dumbledore. Could you introduce this school to us?" He winked at Tom beside Dumbledore. When Tom saw him make a face and jerk his chin toward Dumbledore, he turned his face away.

"Why don't we find somewhere to sit and talk?" Dumbledore said lightly.

"Oh, all right." Nelson looked at Dumbledore before him. Finally seeing the real person and being with one of the greatest wizards of modern times, he could barely contain his excitement. "Let's go to the hall, sir."

"So you mean Tom and I are... wizards? Is that right?"

"That's right. From Tom's description just now, I believe the two of you possess exceptional magical talent. If you come to Hogwarts, I believe you will achieve extraordinary things. For young wizards like you, your abilities are astonishingly complete and mature—and the most interesting part is that—you have already discovered that you can control these abilities to some degree and have begun using them consciously."

"Thank you for the high praise," Nelson said flatteringly. "It sounds like empty promises."

"Empty promises? Like drawing cakes to satisfy hunger? You are remarkably well-read." Dumbledore gave a small counterattack. "But you must believe me, I speak the truth. Perhaps before this, you were merely two orphans at Wool's Orphanage, uncertain of your future. But now, you have entered the magical world."

"Nal, we can do great things!" Tom cut in from the side.

"Yes, the magical world. It's truly unbelievable." Nelson leaned back in his chair and gazed out the window. His thoughts drifted into the distance with his eyes, and he could not help sighing. "The magical world..."

"But we don't have any money." Tom chose that moment to point out the most serious issue. Seeing Dumbledore's expression, he quickly added, "Professor."

"That is not a problem." Dumbledore took two leather pouches from his pocket. "Hogwarts has a special fund to assist students who are temporarily short of money. I brought those funds with me today as well."

Tom took the money pouch and pulled out a Galleon for a careful look. It was a thick coin gleaming with gold. "Then where should we buy the books and everything else we need, Professor?"

"In Diagon Alley," Dumbledore said. "I brought your acceptance letters. They contain the list of required books and school supplies. I can help you buy everything—" He took two parchment scrolls from his pocket.

"You're going with us?" Tom asked, looking up.

"Of course, after all, you—"

"No," Tom refused at once. "Nal and I can go ourselves. We know London very well. How do we get to this Diagon Alley, Professor?"

Dumbledore was momentarily speechless. He quickly handed the parchments to Tom and told him the exact route from the orphanage to the Leaky Cauldron. Then he said, "You will definitely be able to see it, but the Muggles around it cannot. Ask for the bartender, Tom—easy to remember, since he has the same name as you—"

Tom looked displeased, and Dumbledore noticed at once. "You seem to dislike the name 'Tom'?"

"There are too many people called Tom! There must be tens of thousands in all of London!" Tom muttered, waving his arms as though swatting at an invisible mosquito. "Having the same name as so many ordinary people disgusts me!"

"You are an ordinary person too, Tom," Nelson suddenly said from the side. Tom shut up resentfully, though he still muttered things under his breath that could not be understood.

Dumbledore gave him an approving look, puzzled as to why he had not taken the money. "Mr. Williams, why are you not taking your acceptance letter and grant?"

"I need to go back and discuss it with my aunt."

"What is there to discuss? Don't you want to study magic?" Tom began waving his arms again.

"Mr. Williams, you are right. Family is the most precious thing." Dumbledore patted Nelson's shoulder approvingly and handed him the parchment. "Keep the acceptance letter for now."

Nelson accepted the parchment.

"Have a look," Dumbledore encouraged him from the side.

He untied the string binding the parchment, spread it over the table and smoothed it flat, then took a deep breath and looked at the words written on it:

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Armando Dippet (recognized as a premier magical school by the International Confederation of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Nelson Wiltening Williams: We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of the required books and school supplies.

The school term begins on September 1. Please send your reply by owl no later than July 31.

Yours faithfully, Headmaster Armando Dippet.

"You do not need to reply, since you do not have owls yet," Dumbledore added. "Owls are the most common messengers in the magical world. You will need to keep one in the future too. While you are studying, you may use the school's owls first."

"You will take the train to school on September 1, from King's Cross Station." Dumbledore took another envelope from his pocket. "I brought the tickets as well. The details are on the parchment inside the envelope."

Tom took the envelope, opened it for a look, then carefully tucked it into his pocket.

"Now then, Mr. Williams, let's go find your aunt." Dumbledore rose cheerfully, as though he had discovered something interesting in the two young wizards. "As an educator, keeping in touch with students' guardians is essential."

Nelson could barely wait. He wished he could immediately throw himself into a grand adventure in the magical world, but before that, he needed to bid his family a brief farewell. He stood and pushed open the door, inviting Dumbledore to go first. "Thank you!" Dumbledore walked out and said goodbye to Mrs. Cole.

Tom clutched his own money pouch and Nelson's tightly, followed them out, and hurried after the two who had gone ahead, leaving the orphanage.