Professor McGonagall

After finishing his reply, Anduin slipped the letter into a fresh envelope and handed it to the owl. The owl perched on the windowsill took it deftly, secured it to its body, and flew off without looking back.

"Huh, pretty aloof. I wonder what the Wizarding World is like at this point in time. Has Voldemort been killed by Harry yet?" Anduin only knew a little about Harry Potter.

He'd once heard a friend talk about it. Apparently, Voldemort had killed Harry's whole family, but failed to kill Harry and was killed by him instead. But Anduin had no idea what the Magical World was like in 1980 or what had actually happened in the original story.

"Not going to think about it. I'll wait for a reply from Hogwarts. Strength is the foundation in any world, so there's nothing wrong with getting stronger." With that, he returned to his studies for the day. During the summer holidays at the Orphanage, Anduin had planned himself a very intense exercise routine: warm-ups, boxing practice, Standing Meditation, Aerobic Training, meditation, and "telekinesis"—no, magic training now. He kept up with all of it in an orderly fashion.

Life was disciplined, and time always flew by. Less than two days after receiving his Hogwarts acceptance letter, a special guest came to visit Anduin.

"Are you saying you're Professor McGonagall from Hogwarts?" Anduin asked the middle-aged woman who had appeared at his bedroom door. The woman who called herself Professor McGonagall wore square glasses, had black hair twisted up into a bun, and was dressed in dark green robes.

"That's right. I'm Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. I saw your reply, Mr. Wilson. We visit Muggle families who have had no contact with the Magical World." Professor McGonagall seemed to suddenly remember Anduin's circumstances and added, "Of course, we do the same for young men like you who live independently."

"Won't you invite me in, Mr. Wilson?"

"Oh—no, I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall. Please come in. I just haven't quite wrapped my head around this whole magic school business yet." Anduin stepped aside apologetically and invited Professor McGonagall inside.

As soon as she entered the room, Professor McGonagall began looking around. The room was small: a bed, a desk and chair, a bookcase attached to the desk, a cabinet, and a clothes rack. A few Dumbbells sat neatly in the corner, and the bed was made perfectly. There was also a potted plant on the windowsill... If she wasn't mistaken, it was a pot of scallions?

The tidy room and its clean, fresh atmosphere made Professor McGonagall take quite a liking to Anduin. After all, she had arrived without warning, which showed that this new student was very disciplined in his daily life.

"Sorry, Professor McGonagall. The room is rather bare." Anduin apologized, then went to fetch the only chair in the room.

"Don't mention it, Anduin. You don't mind if I call you that, do you? I brought a chair of my own." With that, Professor McGonagall took out her wand, pointed it at the Dumbbells by the wall, and instantly transformed them into a wooden chair, which she sat down on lightly.

Professor McGonagall's trick caught Anduin off guard, but he kept his composure. He pulled out the chair and sat down facing her.

"The letter said to reply by July 31. I thought I wouldn't hear back or get a visit until August."

"That's mainly for children from wizarding families. We visit children who have had no contact with the Magical World ahead of time. Besides, the Magical World is rather tense at the moment..." Professor McGonagall seemed reluctant to say more, but instead got straight to the point.

"Children with magical ability are notified when they reach the appropriate age and invited to attend school. Hogwarts will teach young wizards how to control and use magic properly. I imagine you've noticed some unusual things happening around you over the past few years. Young wizards gradually awaken their magic, and sometimes they have a Magic Outburst."

Anduin nodded, then waved his hand. A cup floated up in front of him.

At the sight, Professor McGonagall was secretly startled. Had he already mastered the Levitation Charm? And silently, without a wand, too. "Mr. Anduin, are you sure you've never studied magic or had anyone teach you?"

"Yes, Professor McGonagall. When I realized I was different from other people, I started practicing little by little. I tried things like sitting meditation, and thought it was some kind of supernatural power—that's what ordinary people call it, anyway. But that's all I can do. I can't conjure a chair like you did." Anduin replied.

"You'll learn at Hogwarts." After hearing Anduin's answer, Professor McGonagall was even more impressed with the young wizard in front of her. Disciplined, diligent, hardworking—what a promising young wizard. But when she thought of the turmoil in the Magical World and the darkness lurking in the shadows, she couldn't help feeling a little anxious.

"Anduin, I'm pleased to see how hard you've worked. Let's get going. We're short on time. We need to make arrangements with the Orphanage, and we also need to take you to buy everything you'll need for school."

Professor McGonagall was decisive and astonishingly efficient. After speaking privately with the Orphanage's senior staff, she quickly settled Anduin's schooling arrangements with them. Anduin suspected Professor McGonagall must have used some kind of magic; the Orphanage staff hadn't raised a single question.

"Did you use magic when you spoke with Mother Tries and the others? They agreed so readily." Anduin couldn't help asking.

"Just a little Confundus Charm. It helps things move along, doesn't it?" Professor McGonagall gave a rare, slightly playful smile. "Don't worry. It won't do them any harm, and they won't forget you. You can still come back here during the holidays."

"All right, next I'll take you to buy the things you need for school. Given your circumstances, I applied to the Board of Governors for a hardship grant on your behalf. You'll receive 12 Galleons a year."

"Oh, right. Galleons are the currency of the Wizarding World. One Galleon is worth seventeen Silver Sickles, and one Silver Sickle is worth twenty-nine Knuts."

I suppose it was only to be expected from Britain. Even the currency exchange rates were a pain in the neck. Anduin's head started to ache.