Misty London and the Soaked Book

Cold rain, carrying the gloomy scent peculiar to London in March, lashed fiercely against the grimy windowpanes. Lynn opened his eyes abruptly; the bone-chilling cold did not come from the rain outside, but from the painfully hard single bed beneath him and the strange odor permeating the air—a mixture of stale wood and cheap disinfectant.

His head throbbed as if countless needles were churning inside his skull. Fragments of memories that did not belong to him surged into his consciousness like a bursting dam. Lynn Li, a Chinese-British orphan who shared his name, had lost his parents early and struggled to grow up in an orphanage in London's East End called "Oak House," having just turned eleven. As for him—the other Lynn—the last image in his memory was closing that dog-eared copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in exhaustion after working late, his computer screen still displaying a forum post analyzing Hermione Granger... followed by a dizzying plunge into darkness.

Transmigration? And into a book he knew by heart? Lynn propped himself up, surveying the cramped, dilapidated room. The mottled walls, the creaking wooden floorboards, and the only source of light was the gray, overcast sky outside. He pinched his thigh, and the sharp, clear pain ruthlessly shattered the last shred of hope that this was a dream.

"Is this the magical world?" he muttered to himself, his heart pounding uncontrollably. This point in time meant the curtain of the magical world was about to rise for him—or rather, for "Lynn Li." But for now, a sense of absurdity and the ensuing immense loneliness were stronger. He had become a helpless stranger, playing a role that never existed in a story that was both familiar and foreign.

The orphanage's dull breakfast time ended, and the administrator, Mrs. Smith, announced in her usual impatient tone that the afternoon was "free time, but don't cause trouble." Lynn wrapped his thin coat tightly around himself and walked almost instinctively toward the nearby community library—one of the few places of solace for the original Lynn in his memories.

The library was well-heated, shutting out the damp cold of the outdoors. The quiet atmosphere helped settle Lynn's chaotic thoughts. He wandered aimlessly between the bookshelves, his fingers brushing over the spines, the familiar titles bringing a touch of illusory comfort. Just as he reached the children's section, a stifled sob and the harsh, mocking laughter of several boys shattered the peace.

"Hey, look! 'Miss Know-It-All' is reading those unwanted thick books again!"

"Who does she think she is? The teacher's little pet?"

"Give me the book! Let's see if it's full of stars and 'O's she drew herself!"

"Go away! This is my book!" a girl's voice, tearful yet unusually stubborn, rang out.

Lynn followed the sound. He saw three boys, aged around eleven or twelve and wearing ill-fitting old clothes, surrounding a corner. Trapped in the middle was a little girl. She had a thick, bushy mane of brown curls, currently frizzy from her struggle, making her look like a startled little lion. Her fair face was flushed bright red, and her large, doe-like brown eyes were brimming with tears, yet she clutched a hardcover book to her chest, refusing to let go. She wore a faded pink coat with frayed cuffs and carried an old, overstuffed schoolbag.

Despite her young age, those familiar curls and those eyes full of intelligence and stubbornness instantly struck Lynn's heart—Hermione Granger! It was her! Hermione, still in primary school and yet to receive her Hogwarts acceptance letter!

A strong protective instinct instantly swept away Lynn's confusion. Without a second thought, he strode over and blocked the path between Hermione and the boys. He was slightly taller than them, and his sudden appearance and imposing manner startled the ringleader.

"Hey! You lot," Lynn said, his voice deliberately low and filled with unquestionable coldness, "what kind of skill is it to bully a little girl? The library is a place for reading, not a stage for you to act like thugs. Do you need me to go call Mrs. Smith to settle this?" He specifically mentioned the orphanage administrator known for her severity; every child in the neighborhood knew her.

The lead boy clearly recognized Lynn and knew of Mrs. Smith's "reputation," a flicker of wariness crossing his face. But he refused to back down verbally: "What... what's it to you? Lynn Li! Mind your own business! She's a freak who only knows how to read!"

"Reading is a good thing." Lynn didn't budge an inch, his eyes sweeping over them sharply. "At least it's much better than some people who only know how to use their fists and mouths to bully the weak. Now, leave. Immediately. Don't make me say it twice." He shifted slightly, revealing the path behind him that led to the administrator's office.

The three boys looked at each other, ultimately all bark and no bite. Muttering things like "you're lucky" and "freak matches freak," they turned and ran off, disappearing behind the bookshelves.

The library corner returned to silence, save for Hermione's small, stifled sobs. She still clutched the book tightly as if it were her only shield, looking at Lynn with guarded caution, her large eyes filled with lingering fear and a hint of confusion.

Lynn's heart softened instantly. He crouched down to bring his gaze level with hers, wearing a gentle smile as he tried to dispel the coldness from moments ago. "Hi, it's okay now, they're gone." His voice was very soft, as if afraid to startle a frightened bird. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Hermione sniffled, trying hard to hold back her tears, but with little success. She shook her head and whispered, "No... I'm not hurt. Thank you..." Her gaze fell on the orphanage badge on Lynn's chest, then quickly darted away.

"You're welcome." Lynn's smile grew warmer. "My name is Lynn, Lynn Li." He pointed to himself. "What's your name?"

"Hermione... Hermione Granger." The little girl's voice still had a nasal tone, but it was much clearer. She finally relaxed a little, and her arms holding the book loosened, revealing the cover of the hardcover—The Encyclopedia of Science for British Children: Wonderful Science.

"Nice to meet you, Hermione." Lynn noticed the book in her arms. "Science? That's cool. I like studying these things too." He pointed to the encyclopedia. "Especially the parts about math and logic."

Hermione's eyes lit up instantly, like two polished pieces of amber. "Really?" She seemed a bit incredulous, yet also surprised to have found a kindred spirit. "You think logic is interesting too? Like... like the 'River Crossing Problem' in the book?" She was referring to the classic logic puzzle about a farmer crossing a river with a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage.

"Oh! That one!" Lynn immediately showed great interest. "Of course! That's a classic. The key is that you can't leave the wolf and the goat alone, nor the goat and the cabbage, right? You have to find the right order." He deliberately didn't give the answer, guiding Hermione instead.

Hermione nodded vigorously, tears still streaking her face, but the fear and grievance had been replaced by a pure, inquisitive excitement. "Right! I tried several ways, but they were always wrong. The farmer should take the goat across first!" She shared her thoughts eagerly.

"Exactly, taking the goat first is safe." Lynn nodded approvingly. "Then the farmer comes back alone, and for the second trip, he can choose to take the wolf or the cabbage... if it were you, which one would you take?" He acted like a patient guide.

Hermione furrowed her small brows, lost in serious thought, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of the page. Watching the little Hermione before him, immersed in the world of logic, a strange warmth and an indescribable sense of destiny surged in Lynn's heart. This was the girl who would become famous for her wisdom in the magical world; even in the Muggle world, her brilliance was so clear.

The two of them whispered in the quiet corner of the library, discussing the logic puzzle. Lynn didn't give the answer directly, instead using questions to guide Hermione to deduce it step by step. Hermione's eyes grew brighter and her reasoning clearer. When she finally deduced the correct steps, her little face bloomed with a huge sense of achievement and pure joy, completely forgetting the unpleasantness from before.

"You're amazing, Lynn!" Hermione exclaimed sincerely, her eyes filled with admiration and closeness as she looked at him.

"No, you solved it yourself. You're very smart, Hermione." Lynn said genuinely. He looked out the window; the rain seemed to have eased. "Are you hungry? To celebrate you solving the puzzle, how about I treat you to some chips? I know a shop on the corner that makes them extra crispy."

Hermione hesitated, touched her little stomach, and then looked at Lynn's gentle smile. Finally, unable to resist the temptation of chips and this novel friendship, she nodded, a shy smile appearing on her face. "O... okay. Thank you, Lynn."

Lynn stood up and naturally reached out his hand. Hermione hesitated for a second before placing her small hand in his palm. Her hand was slightly cold but very soft. Lynn led her, carefully avoiding the small puddles on the ground, and walked out of the library. Hermione's other hand remained clutched tightly around her encyclopedia, as if it were her most precious treasure.

Stepping out of the library, the air after the rain carried the freshness of earth. Lynn walked along the wet sidewalk holding little Hermione's hand, his mood clearer than it had been since his transmigration. Just then, Hermione suddenly cried out, "Oh!" and stopped in her tracks.

"What's wrong?" Lynn asked with concern.

Hermione's little face crinkled in annoyance. "I... I think I left another book on my seat in the library! Basic Charms and Introductory Magical Theory! It was so hard for my dad to help me borrow it!" She was on the verge of tears; the book seemed very important to her.

Lynn's heart skipped a beat. Basic Charms? A Muggle girl reading a book like that? This was clearly an important signal! He immediately comforted her: "Don't worry, Hermione. We'll go back and find it. We just left, it should still be on the seat. I'll go back with you."

Hermione nodded vigorously, and the two turned to walk back quickly. However, just as they were about to step into the library again, the corner of Lynn's eye caught an inconspicuous corner by the entrance—an old wooden rack for lost and found items. A thin book with a dark blue cover, printed with complex silver star patterns, was lying alone on the shelf, its edges seemingly dampened by the rain.

Lynn's footsteps faltered. He had never seen the cover of that book before, but a strong, indescribable intuition instantly seized him. It was as if the book were calling to him, emitting a faint yet undeniable warmth. Almost as if possessed, he reached out, his fingertips touching the cold, damp cover.

At that very moment—

A faint yet clear sensation of electricity surged through his entire body from his fingertips! He felt as if he heard a silent hum from the depths of his soul. The noisy background of the library, Hermione's anxious calls, and even the sound of the rain outside were instantly pulled away and blurred. The entire world was reduced to the presence of the book under his fingertips, and a spark—extremely tiny yet incomparably real—was suddenly ignited in a long-dormant place deep within his body.

Lynn pulled his hand back abruptly, his heart pounding violently in his chest, almost shattering his ribs. He looked down at his fingertips, where a strange tingling sensation seemed to linger.

"Lynn? What's wrong?" Hermione tugged at his sleeve, confused; she was anxious to find her lost book.

Lynn took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart, and managed a smile at Hermione: "N... nothing, I just felt a bit dizzy. Let's go find your book." He took one last deep look at the mysterious dark blue book, forced his gaze away, and followed Hermione back into the library.

However, the strange sensation lingering on his fingertips and the faint "spark" within him were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge ripples in his heart. On this rainy London afternoon in 1991, after meeting the little girl with brown curls, Lynn Li's world had touched the boundary of "magic" for the very first time. The gears of fate, the moment he took Hermione Granger's small hand and the instant his fingertips touched that mysterious book, began to turn with a roar, driving him toward that magical path—full of unknowns, yet destined to be closely intertwined with her.