"So, you were worried that you had no money and didn't know the way to the Magical World?"
The words "Please accept me as your apprentice" had reached his lips several times before he finally blurted them out.
But somehow, they turned into him having no money...
Dumbledore thought it over. Indeed, for a child from an orphanage, having no money was perfectly normal. And if the child had enough pride, it was understandable that he found it difficult to say so.
"Money is not a problem. Every impoverished young wizard receives a Hogwarts grant. However, that money is only enough to help you buy a wand and some secondhand books."
With both hands in his pockets, Dumbledore lowered his head in thought.
"However, taking you to Diagon Alley to buy your necessities..."
"Excuse me, Professor. If it's somewhere in London, I can manage on my own!"
Dumbledore was taken aback, then understood. Cypher had surely snuck off to London to play by himself more than once.
But the wizarding world was, after all, not the Muggle world.
Among the wizarding districts connected to London, only Diagon Alley had Aurors stationed there, making it relatively orderly.
If Cypher were accidentally tricked into Knockturn Alley...
Dumbledore frowned. With war approaching, Hogwarts professors had no choice but to help out on the front lines.
On top of that, the Wizarding War launched by Grindelwald a few years ago had only recently ended.
Many members of ancient families had lost their homes and families, left wandering outside.
It was unrealistic for professors to personally take every young wizard to Diagon Alley to purchase supplies.
Cypher seemed mature enough. Finding a responsible little lion to help him should be enough.
"Cypher, I cannot fully agree to your request. How about this? The day after you receive your school acceptance letter should also be the day you go shopping. I'll arrange for an older student to help you. What do you say?"
Cypher opened his mouth, but ultimately did not reject Dumbledore's arrangement.
In truth, Cypher greatly hoped that a pretty older girl would be the one to lead him into the magical world.
What he wanted to ask was whether his guide could be changed to an older girl.
But considering that he would still have to shamelessly mine Dumbledore for knowledge after school began...
He decided not to speak and tarnish his own image.
"I'm sorry, Cypher. There's too much to do before school starts. These next few days are the only time I can spare to visit each of you new students."
Dumbledore misunderstood again. He thought Cypher wanted him to personally bring him into the Magical World.
I'm as popular as ever!
He carried two fish home and, after simply cleaning them, made a delicious fish soup.
When the fresh, savory fish soup filled his mouth,
Cypher was certain that he was not dreaming.
He had once suspected that the world he had crossed into was the Marvel universe.
Because whether he recited a spell or not had no effect on the outcome it produced.
But when the Hogwarts professor calling himself Dumbledore came looking for him,
it confirmed that the world he had crossed into was the magical world of Harry Potter.
Yet there were also some differences.
Cypher suspected that at least one of his parents had rabbit blood.
Because he had far too many rabbit-like traits.
From that day onward, Cypher opened his window every morning and gazed eagerly at the sky.
He hoped an owl would bring the acceptance letter he had been yearning for.
September 1, the school opening date he remembered, was drawing ever closer.
One day, Cypher opened the window as usual.
To his surprise, he found a snowy owl, white from head to toe, perched outside the window.
When the snowy owl saw the window open, it also sensed the little boy's delighted feelings.
It spread its wings, preparing to fly into the room.
However...
Smack!
"Sorry, sorry... I'll treat you to some dried fish strips. Here's some cooled boiled water. Please help yourself..."
Cypher clasped his hands together and repeatedly apologized to the proud little darling before him, whose feathers were in complete disarray.
Every morning, Cypher opened the window, but found nothing.
Thus, he had formed the habit of opening it to check before instinctively shutting it again.
And just like that, Hogwarts' messenger was smacked outside by the closing window.
After much coaxing and pleading,
in the end,
perhaps because the snowy owl saw how sincerely Cypher admitted his mistake, or perhaps because Cypher tempted it with food,
the disheveled snowy owl finally lowered its head and began eating the dried fish.
Cypher was finally able to smooth out its messy feathers and remove the letter tied to its leg.
Fed and satisfied, the little messenger saw that Cypher had no intention of having it carry a reply.
It flapped its wings and flew away.
Cypher took a deep breath, calming his excited heart.
Yet he still picked up the letter with trembling hands.
Outside London
Cokeworth
Corlin Road Orphanage
Single dormitory, first door on the right
To Mr. Cypher Corvin, on the bed on the second floor
"Is this magic? The ability to precisely monitor a young wizard's movements."
Cypher's heart tightened, and he quickly raised his head to look around...
In his excitement, he really had unknowingly sat down on the bed.
Though he did not know whether it was a coincidence or whether the address changed the moment he saw the letter.
"Always hold reverence for the unknown."
Cypher took a deep breath and reminded himself.
Then he picked up the letter again.
The letter was written in emerald-green ink, with no stamp, and had the heavy texture of parchment.
Turning it over, he saw a wax seal bearing a shield-shaped crest. Around a large letter "H" were a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake.
Cypher slowly opened the envelope and took out the letter.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Armando Dippet
(Vice President of the International Confederation of Wizards, British Royal Honored Wizard, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot)
Dear Mr. Corvin:
We are pleased and honored to inform you that you have been accepted to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment.
The term begins on September 1.
We await your owl no later than August 31st should you have any questions.
Deputy Headmaster
Respectfully, Brandt Fergus
Dumbledore was not actually the Headmaster?
Oh, right, it was 1938...
Wait...
At this point, the first Grindelwald seemed to be preparing to begin unifying the wizarding world.
The second Dark Lord... would he be in the same year as me???
In this era... if I managed to stay alive and intact, that alone would count as a great success in life...
After reading the letter, a string of absurd thoughts flashed through Cypher's mind.
By the time Cypher came back to his senses,
he had no idea how long he had been sitting dazed by the bedside.
A call brought him back to himself.
It was Annie, the youngest girl in the orphanage and the one most attached to him.
She stood at the doorway, smiling as she called him downstairs for breakfast.
Cypher came to his senses and stood with a smile. As he passed the table, he casually placed the letter in a drawer.
Leading Annie down the corridor, Cypher's gaze gradually grew firm.
Living in such a magnificent era, if all I did was cling to Dumbledore's coattails and scrape by for the rest of my life, I really would be unwilling to accept that!
Before you continue