Midnight Visitor and Star Resonance

The night at Oak House Orphanage was so silent that only the occasional groan of old pipes and the howling wind outside could be heard. Lynn lay on the hard bed, wide awake. The two sharp, golden eyes from the treetop during the day were branded into his mind like a scar.

An owl! That was definitely an owl! Was its target... himself, or Hermione? Or both? Was that fate-altering envelope already clasped in its strong beak, ready to tear through London's night sky at any moment?

Time seemed to stretch. Lynn tossed and turned, the "spark" inside him seeming to sense his anxiety, flickering restlessly. He sat up, and by the faint moonlight filtering through the window, he retrieved the deep blue "Star Stone" pendant from its hiding place. It was cold to the touch, but when he tried to infuse a faint, warm current of "spark" into it, it felt as if the tiniest ripples spread within the cold stone, sending back a faint yet clear vibration, like a resonance. This sensation was more pronounced than before, as if something was approaching, calling out.

Clutching the pendant, he walked to the narrow window, pulled back a corner of the heavy curtain, and scanned the street outside with sharp eyes—a scene fragmented by the dim yellow light of the streetlamps—and the dark, shadowy trees in the distance. The night wind whimpered, rustling the fallen leaves on the ground.

Time ticked by, second after second. Just as Lynn thought nothing would happen tonight and was about to give up—

Thump! Thump-thump!

A clear, short sound of something hard tapping against the glass suddenly came from below the window!

Lynn's heart leaped into his throat! He crouched low and followed the sound. He saw a large, sturdy bird, covered in dark brown and gray-white feathers, using its curved, sharp beak to tap repeatedly on the glass of a transom window at the end of the first-floor corridor, just below his attic room! Its eyes, like molten gold in the night, pierced the darkness sharply, as if they could lock directly onto Lynn in the attic!

It was here! It had really come!

Without hesitation, Lynn slipped out of his room like a shadow and crept down the creaky wooden stairs. The orphanage corridor was pitch black, lit only by the dim light from the transom at the end, now further obscured by the bird's silhouette. Holding his breath, he quietly approached the transom.

The owl outside seemed to sense his approach and stopped tapping. It tilted its head, its molten gold eyes fixed unblinkingly on Lynn inside the window, carrying an inhuman, scrutinizing gaze. Lynn could see its strong claws gripping the narrow windowsill tightly. On one claw was securely tied a thick, square parchment envelope! Under the dim light, the envelope showed an antique beige color, with an address written in what seemed to be dark green ink.

Taking a deep breath, Lynn carefully, as quietly as possible, unlatched the transom and pushed it open a crack.

The night wind rushed in, carrying a chill and a hint of wildness. The owl didn't fly away; instead, it extended the claw with the letter forward, its movement precise and steady, as if trained countless times.

Lynn reached out. His fingertips touched the cold, tough parchment envelope and the rough, scaly texture of the owl's claw. Just as he untied the thin string binding the envelope, the owl flapped its wings sharply, silently melting into the night, vanishing in an instant, leaving only a few drifting downy feathers and a lingering chill on the envelope.

Lynn quickly closed the transom, his heart still pounding. He clutched the letter, which seemed to carry the weight of fate, as if holding a burning coal, and dashed back to his attic room. Locking the door and pulling the curtains tight, he eagerly looked at the envelope by the moonlight.

Elegant and forceful letters in dark green ink traced across the beige parchment:

Oak House Orphanage

Attic Room

Mr. Lynn Li

On the back of the envelope was a seal of deep red wax. The pattern on the wax wasn't any crest he recognized; it was a complex symbol made of abstract lines, resembling both intertwined vines and star trails, exuding a mysterious aura.

Lynn carefully pried open the wax seal with his fingernail and pulled out the parchment letter inside. Written in the same dark green ink, it read:

> Mr. Lynn Li: > > We are pleased to inform you that, after extensive observation and careful evaluation, you have been accepted into an elite boarding school located in the Scottish Highlands, dedicated to the study of ancient energy and the development of individual potential. > > The new term begins on September first. Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment. > > Given your special circumstances, the school will dispatch a representative to wait at the orphanage gate at nine o'clock in the morning on July thirty-first, to guide you through the subsequent procedures and the purchase of necessary items. > > Please send your decision (acceptance or rejection of this offer) in writing by July fifteenth, via any Night Messenger (e.g., Eagle Owl). > > Deputy Headmaster (Acting) > > Sincerely

No school name! No headmaster's signature! The wording was extremely cautious, using "study of ancient energy," "development of individual potential," and "elite boarding school" to replace sensitive terms, but the core message was crystal clear—he had been accepted into a magic school! And it was in the Scottish Highlands! Time, place, procedure—everything was proceeding methodically!

A wave of immense, almost overwhelming joy and relief crashed over Lynn's nerves. He had done it! He had obtained the ticket out of Oak House and into that magical world! Hogwarts! This had to be Hogwarts!

He suppressed his excitement and looked at the list enclosed with the letter. The parchment clearly listed:

First-year required books: Introduction to Basic Energy, Introduction to the Analysis of Ancient Symbols, Herbal Properties and Basic Applications, Basic Construction of Energy Fields, A Compendium of European Magical Creatures, A Brief History of Energy Conversion...

Equipment: Plain work robes (black), protective gloves (dragon hide or equivalent material), protective cloak (black, with fastening clasp), Standard Energy Conductor (multiple materials available, compatibility recommended)...

All names had been cleverly obscured, but Lynn immediately recognized the familiar textbooks and equipment from the original story (the wand became a "Standard Energy Conductor"). This acceptance letter perfectly avoided any potential risk while accurately conveying all necessary information!

Lynn read the letter and list several times to confirm, then carefully hid them back with the Starry Book. He lay on the bed, his excited heart unable to calm down for a long time. What about Hermione? Her letter should arrive soon, right? They could finally step into that dream world together!

The next afternoon, Lynn practically sprinted into the Grangers' backyard tool shed right on time. Hermione was there earlier than him, sitting on a small wooden stool, clutching a beige parchment envelope identical to the one he had received! Her small face was a mix of immense excitement, disbelief, and lingering fright.

"Lynn!" As soon as she saw him, Hermione jumped up like a frightened bird finding shelter, rushed a few steps to him, and held up the envelope for him to see, her voice still trembling, "You... look! Last night! There was this huge bird! It tapped on my window with its beak! And then... then it left this! It had my name on it!" She was clearly terrified by the owl's sudden visit.

Lynn understood immediately. He naturally reached out and gently took Hermione's small hand, which was trembling slightly from excitement and tension (her wrist was cold), conveying a calming strength. "Don't be afraid, Hermione. I got one too." He took out his own hidden envelope and showed it to her.

"You got one too?!" Hermione's eyes went wide, fear replaced by immense surprise, "Really? Then... then that big bird..."

"They're called Night Messengers, specially used to deliver important letters like this," Lynn explained, using words she could understand. "They're very smart and won't hurt anyone. See? It just delivered the letter and left, right?"

Hermione recalled the sharp but seemingly harmless look in the big bird's eyes last night and how it flew off after dropping the letter. She nodded, her tense little body finally relaxing a bit. She looked down at the identical envelopes in their hands, then at Lynn's warm, smiling eyes. A wonderful sense of shared destiny welled up inside her. They had discovered the secret together, lit the "Little Spark" together, and now, they had received the invitation to change their lives together!

"Lynn," Hermione's voice was full of anticipation and a hint of nervousness, "Is that school in the letter... real? In the Scottish Highlands? Learning... learning that 'ancient energy'?"

"It's real," Lynn nodded firmly, his tone carrying undeniable excitement. "That's where the 'key' we've been looking for really works! We can learn together, explore more amazing things together! Just like you said yesterday—making the tool shed clean itself, or making cakes taste better!" He encouraged her with her own childish words from the day before.

Hermione laughed, a bright smile blooming on her small face, the last trace of unease vanishing. "Mm! Let's go together!" She nodded vigorously, her brown eyes full of longing for the future. She pulled Lynn to sit on the small wooden stool, eagerly opened her envelope, and they put their heads together, carefully reading the equally cautious acceptance letter and list.

"Look! We have so many of the same books!" Hermione pointed at the list, whispering excitedly, "Introduction to Basic Energy, Introduction to the Analysis of Ancient Symbols... Ah! And this 'Standard Energy Conductor'! Sounds so cool!" She was already completely immersed in the new life ahead.

"Yeah, let's go buy it together." Lynn responded with a smile. He took out the Starry Book and placed it on the workbench, ready to begin today's exploration. However, just as his fingertips inadvertently brushed across the cover of the book—

Hum...

A vibration far clearer than usual, accompanied by an extremely faint yet genuine warmth, instantly transmitted from the Starry Book! It was as if the book itself had sensed the presence of the admission letter, producing some strange resonance!

Lynn's heart stirred, but he calmly withdrew his fingers. So there really was some kind of connection between the Starry Book... and that academy? This mystery might only be solved once they truly set foot inside that ancient castle.

"Hermione," Lynn said, picking up a quill (the one Hermione had brought) and a plain sheet of white paper, "right now, the most important thing is—writing the reply! Tell them we accept!"

"Right! Write the reply!" Hermione immediately responded, her small face flushed with excitement. She snatched the quill, dipped it in ink, and wrote neatly on the paper:

> Dear Deputy Headmaster:

> I, Hermione Granger, am very honored and pleased to accept the academy's admission. I look forward to September first.

> Sincerely, Hermione Granger

The handwriting was tidy, carrying a child's earnestness. After finishing, she proudly showed it to Lynn.

Lynn took the quill and solemnly wrote his own acceptance letter on another sheet. As he signed off, he glanced at Hermione's youthful yet determined signature, a gentle smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He carefully folded both letters and looked out the window at the sun slowly sinking westward.

"Once it gets a bit darker, we'll leave the letters at the tool shed door," Lynn said. "Those 'Night Messengers' will find them."

Hermione nodded vigorously, her small hand unconsciously reaching for the "Moon White Stone" pendant on her chest, then glancing at the "Star Stone" on Lynn's. Her eyes were filled with boundless anticipation for the journey of starlight and unknowns they were about to embark on together.