Professor McGonagall is Surprised

"When did you first become aware of the existence of magic?"

Professor McGonagall's voice was low and serious, carrying an undeniable professionalism.

Faced with the question, Damon smiled and extended his hand, palm facing upward.

As far as he knew, Professor McGonagall was an absolutely good person. Showing off his talent in front of her made Damon feel even more at ease than he would in front of Dumbledore.

After all, that old bee might still harbor concerns about his exceptional talent, pondering how to cautiously handle or even arrange his future.

But Professor McGonagall would probably only consider whether to let him play Quidditch later on.

Still, the real reason Damon wanted to show off was more about interacting with the character—when a witch from the books appears before you, wouldn't you want to have a chat with her?

"At first, this feeling was a bit hard to grasp, but now, it's almost as easy as moving my own limbs."

Damon stood tall and spoke with ease. As he focused, the air above his palm gradually rippled with a faint shimmer.

Then, a quill on the table swiftly floated into the air, tracing an elegant arc under Damon's control.

"I can feel that magic is part of my body, moving with my will—and even... transforming."

As he finished speaking, the quill drifted into Professor McGonagall's hand, transforming into a fountain pen.

Damon met Professor McGonagall's gaze, bowed slightly, graceful and composed.

Professor McGonagall's eyes were full of surprise and admiration. She leaned forward slightly, carefully examining the fountain pen in her hand, her gaze behind her spectacles intensely focused.

"Damon, I must admit, considering your current age and educational background, this is quite astonishing." Her voice was precise yet gentle. "To have such precise control over magic before even starting school is extremely rare, even among Hogwarts' new students."

McGonagall couldn't help but think of that 'Boy Who Lived,' Harry Potter.

Even that child probably couldn't manage this level of skill right now, could he?

But she'd heard from Hagrid that the boy had already received a very meaningful wand.

Professor McGonagall straightened up and asked curiously:

"How did you do it? No one here could have taught you magic. Did you figure all this out on your own?"

Seeing Professor McGonagall's serious yet curious expression, Damon's face lit up with amusement. Watching a character from the books come to life so vividly before him was truly delightful.

"I did figure it out on my own. After receiving the admission letter, I realized I had some kind of talent, and it seemed only right not to waste it.

During the waiting days, I started trying to sense this talent and learn to master it."

Damon looked directly into Professor McGonagall's eyes. When he said "during the waiting days," a flicker of apology passed through her gaze. He smiled slightly and continued:

"As for the method I used to explore it, it boils down to just six words."

"Sense, apply, reflect."

The youth's figure was slender, and even standing before Professor McGonagall, he answered fluently. His posture was like a straight poplar, exuding an elegance and confidence that seemed innate.

Listening to the boy's method and looking at his soft, refined features, McGonagall found herself irresistibly drawn to his azure-blue eyes. They held a unique liveliness, their sparkle like stars, full of curiosity about the world and a thirst for exploration.

With such bearing, such words, such talent—this child would surely become an outstanding graduate of Hogwarts.

Seeing Professor McGonagall seem a bit lost in thought, Damon smiled, elegantly leaned closer, and asked softly:

"Professor?"

"Ah, I was just reminded of an old acquaintance."

McGonagall cleared her throat, trying to hide her momentary distraction, but her eyes still held an uncontrollable amazement.

"Well said. Being able to summarize such a method shows you have extraordinary intelligence."

She paused briefly, thinking to herself:

Perhaps she should inform Dumbledore of Damon's situation in detail. Only he could plan the most suitable growth path for Damon.

With talent like Damon's, if guided properly, he would surely become a pillar of the Magical World in the future. But if things went slightly wrong, and he strayed down the wrong path...

Thinking of his similar background as an orphan, Professor McGonagall's eyelashes trembled slightly as she thought of someone whose name could not be spoken.

When Dumbledore had found Tom in the orphanage back then, had he felt the same way she did now?

Professor McGonagall suddenly understood Dumbledore a little better.

But quickly, she came to her senses and banished the thought from her mind.

No, with her as this child's guide, he would surely walk the right path.

Professor McGonagall steadied herself and said to Damon:

"Child, wait here for a moment. I need to speak with your Matron about a few things."

Over the years, she had witnessed many incidents caused by Muggle parents' vastly different attitudes toward magic, and she had become quite adept at handling them.

But when it came to this child, Damon, McGonagall suddenly found herself feeling a bit nervous again.

However, everything went surprisingly smoothly—so smoothly, in fact, that it even made her feel a little irritated.

When she proposed taking Damon away, the Matron here agreed without the slightest hesitation, not even asking any questions.

Her reaction was as flat as still water—neither questioning nor trusting, just accepting the decision.

And Damon showed no reaction to this either. He simply nodded calmly, said goodbye to the Matron, and that was that.

The two of them had calmed down, but McGonagall was far from calm.

Not a trace of worry, not a single question.

She had imagined eager inquiries, or at least some concern for Damon's future plans, but none of that happened.

McGonagall's expression cooled a few degrees. Without causing any further trouble, she silently led Damon away.

Her cold attitude, however, surprised the Matron and even stirred some worry. But when she saw Damon merely smile and wave goodbye to her, she gradually settled down again.

The moment McGonagall stepped out of the orphanage with Damon, she let out a cold snort.

Hearing Professor McGonagall's light snort, Damon looked at her with some confusion and asked softly:

"Professor, has something happened?"

Professor McGonagall looked down at Damon, a flicker of complex emotion in her eyes:

"Just now, when I told your Matron that I was taking you to Hogwarts, she didn't hesitate or ask a single question. She let you go with me so easily. If it had been any other guardian, they would have questioned me over and over, demanding to verify my identity."

Damon paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled, his gaze toward Professor McGonagall softening a few degrees:

"Professor, you misunderstand. I already told the Matron that someone from the school would be coming."

"The Matron trusts me just as you do. She believes that the choices I make won't be wrong, and that the person I'm following won't be a bad one. That's why she was so at ease."

"Oh—I see!"

After hearing this, Professor McGonagall's displeasure instantly dissipated, replaced by a trace of self-reproach.

"I wronged her. Next time we meet, please apologize to her on my behalf for my rudeness just now."

"Mm, I will."

What a good child.

McGonagall looked at the smiling Damon, as if infected by him. On her usually stern, composed face, a rare, gentle smile appeared.

"Come, I'll take you to Diagon Alley."