Hogwarts

"Bleurgh!" On the outskirts of London, Oren clung to a large tree and vomited nonstop.

"I can't do this anymore. This definitely won't work. Headmaster Dumbledore, could you maybe use a different mode of transportation?"

"All right, child. Then we'll use something else."

"What is it, Headmaster? A carriage or a flying carpet?"

Under Oren's expectant gaze, the two arrived at a subway station.

"Ahem, child, give me another five minutes. I'm almost done figuring out this machine."

In the end, one of the staff members couldn't stand watching any longer and helped the strange old man sort everything out.

"Headmaster, didn't you say we're wizards?"

"That's right."

"Then why are we taking the subway?"

Oren did not even dare speak loudly. Several people in the carriage were staring at Dumbledore, their eyes practically popping out.

Dumbledore also felt it was inappropriate to be watched by Muggles, so he cast a Confundus Charm. Soon, the Muggles around them forgot about the two of them.

"Headmaster, isn't there any transportation that's a bit more wizard-like?"

Dumbledore thought for a moment. "There is! Aside from the unsuitable options, I simply didn't bring any."

"All right." Oren slumped into his seat as though resigning himself to fate.

After leaving the subway, the two twisted and turned through several streets before arriving at a cramped, somewhat filthy pub.

Dumbledore exchanged a few pleasantries with the balding old man behind the bar, then led Oren into an alley behind the pub.

"Child, remember how to enter Diagon Alley."

After tapping several bricks with his wand, the Headmaster made the entire wall recede to both sides.

"Welcome to Diagon Alley, child."

Oren...

"I thought you'd be as surprised as other Muggle-born young wizards."

Oren curled his lip. Before transmigrating, he had watched plenty of blockbuster movies packed with special effects. This little scene was hardly outrageous.

Dumbledore...

The two entered the long street paved with cobblestones.

After leaving Madam Malkin's Robes, Oren had changed into a brand-new set of wizarding robes. Aside from Madam Malkin nearly putting him in a woman's robe, the shopping experience had been quite pleasant.

"Child, if you cut your hair shorter, it should... perhaps reduce these misunderstandings."

"I won't cut it, Headmaster. Whenever I cut it myself, people say it looks like a dog chewed it."

Dumbledore...

Along the way, at Flourish and Blotts and the cauldron shop, Headmaster Dumbledore had been showering gold coins everywhere.

"All right, we only need to get you a wand now. If there's enough time, we might still make it back for dinner at Hogwarts."

"Is that really necessary, Headmaster? I feel like I can cast spells even without a wand."

With that, Oren raised his hand, about to cast Fiendfyre.

Dumbledore hurriedly grabbed Oren and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Sigh... It isn't appropriate in broad daylight."

"Fiendfyre is powerful Dark magic. You mustn't cast it carelessly!"

Exhausted. Dumbledore felt utterly exhausted.

Oren nodded. "I understand, Headmaster. So I just need to cast it where no one can see, right?"

Dumbledore...

"You... forget it. Once we return to Hogwarts, I'll have a proper talk with you about Dark magic."

"Wizards all use wands. Perhaps Ollivanders has one suitable for you."

The old man and the child entered Ollivanders. An old man with silvery-white eyes appeared from behind the counter.

"Hello, Headmaster Dumbledore. Is this a new student? It isn't even the holidays yet, is it?"

"Hello, Ollivander..."

People said old ladies could gossip forever, but these two old men were no different. Bored out of his mind, Oren could only wander around the shop. Everywhere he looked, there were boxes.

Watching the two old men turn into village gossips, Oren helplessly pulled out a book on basic spells and began reading.

Nearly thirty minutes passed before the two old geezers remembered what they were supposed to be doing.

Ollivander said, "Ahem. Young wizard, stand in front of the counter."

Oren stared at the enchanted measuring tape flying around and measuring him all over.

"Just give me any wand, sir. I don't really need one."

Ollivander said solemnly, "The wand chooses the young wizard."

"Try this one. Ash wood, unicorn hair, nine and a quarter inches."

Oren waved the wand with his right hand and silently cast the Lumos spell he had just learned.

"Very good, young wizard. It seems this wand suits you very well."

Oren rolled his eyes and lightly hooked a finger with his left hand. A ball of light like a flashbang appeared.

Ollivander's expression became grave, as though he had encountered the greatest challenge of his career.

"Come, try this one as well. Fir wood, dragon heartstring, ten inches."

"Try this one..."

Nearly buried beneath wand boxes, Oren said, "Mr. Ollivander, why not just give me any one of them? There's really no need to go through so much trouble."

The unwilling Ollivander had scratched his hair into a mess, and his eyes were bloodshot. He pulled out another seven or eight wands as though making one final desperate attempt.

Fifty minutes later—

Having accepted defeat, Ollivander let Oren pick one for himself. Meanwhile, Dumbledore comforted Ollivander, and it took him quite some time to recover.

After leaving the shop, Oren looked at the cedar wand in his hand.

Oren waved the wand.

"Lumos!" Light emerged from the tip of the wand.

"Not bad. Silent, wandless casting."

"...Headmaster Dumbledore, does my normal casting really look that fake?"

Dumbledore quietly complained in his heart, Who could you possibly fool? Even the wand movement is wrong.

"Ahem, all right, Oren. We should return to Hogwarts. It's gotten too late. I think we've already missed dinner."

Oren looked at the moon in the sky, then at Dumbledore. His gaze seemed to say, You should know perfectly well why we missed it.

Dumbledore pursed his lips and grabbed Oren.

"No! Headmaster, not again!"

Bang! The two appeared at the gates of Hogwarts.

"Bleurgh... Headmaster Dumbledore, why did we have to teleport again? Couldn't we have taken the subway?"

Dumbledore patted Oren on the back.

"You'll get used to it eventually. Welcome to Hogwarts."

Oren stopped vomiting and looked up. Beneath the bright moon and sparse stars stood a magnificent castle in the distance, ablaze with lights.

Under the pure moonlight, the old man in white robes led the young wizard in black robes along the broad stone path toward the distant castle.

"Hello, Headmaster Dumbledore!"

Beside the stone path in the distance, a vague, towering figure waved at them.

Oren rubbed his eyes and could not help complaining inwardly, What is that? That silhouette's over three meters tall, isn't it? A brown bear?

As he drew closer, Oren saw the figure clearly. He was a three-and-a-half-meter British strongman wearing a fur coat covered in pockets. Though his face was hidden behind a thick beard, his overall demeanor was exceptionally gentle.

"Did you bring back a young wizard?"

The giant stared at Oren with huge black-beetle-like eyes for quite a while before speaking.

"You're really a... pretty little witch."

Oren's fist clenched. The hand gripping Dumbledore's wrist unconsciously tightened.

Dumbledore's old, crooked-nosed face shifted through three colors as quickly as a traffic light.

"Ahem, Hagrid, this is Mr. Oren Black," he explained, placing deliberate emphasis on "Mr."

"Oh, sorry. Little Oren, you're a very handsome young wizard."

Feeling the tremendous force around his wrist gradually fade, Dumbledore calmly withdrew his hand.

Dumbledore briefly explained Oren's situation to Hagrid.

"You were personally brought back by Headmaster Dumbledore. I'm sure you'll become an excellent Gryffindor in the future."

Hagrid patted Oren on the shoulder with his enormous hand, but Oren did not budge in the slightest.

Beside them, Dumbledore quietly rubbed his wrist again.

"This is Hagrid, Hogwarts' Keeper of Keys and Grounds. He lives in a wooden hut beside the Forbidden Forest."

Dumbledore pointed toward a small cabin, while Oren stared blankly at the giant pumpkins in the vegetable patch.

At that moment, Oren felt something stir within his soul.

The two bid Hagrid farewell and entered Hogwarts Castle.

"Looks like we'll have to solve our dinner problem in the kitchens."

The two entered the underground section of the castle. The moment they emerged from the stairwell, they ran straight into a gloomy-looking wizard with greasy hair and black robes.

The wizard stared at Oren for quite a while before speaking.

"I was wondering where Headmaster Dumbledore, who vanished for the entire day, had gone. So you went and stole Sirius Black's daughter."

"This is Mr. Oren Black."

Dumbledore hurriedly explained. He felt a phantom ache beginning in his wrist.

"Hmph, another Black."

With that, he stormed off. The wind he stirred up made his black robes billow, making him look exactly like a giant bat flying close to the ground.

"That was Professor Snape. Don't be fooled by how unfriendly he seems. He isn't particularly friendly to anyone."

Oren...

The two stood before an oil painting of a bowl of fruit. Dumbledore scratched the pear, and after it giggled a few times, it transformed into a green handle.

Inside the kitchen were four long tables and a group of busy, strange little creatures.

One strange creature said, "Honored Headmaster Dumbledore, what can Spoon do for you?"

"Two dinners will do."

Dumbledore casually picked up a dessert and said, "They are Hogwarts house-elves..."

The old geezer stuffed one frosting-covered pastry after another into his mouth. Oren felt his own throat tighten just watching him.

After eating and drinking their fill, the two wandered through the castle until they reached the second floor. Dumbledore motioned for Oren to wait, entered an office, and shortly afterward emerged with a stern witch in green robes.

"Minerva, I'll leave this child to you."

After saying that, Dumbledore plucked one of Oren's hairs and left.

"Poor child. You may call me Professor McGonagall."

Professor McGonagall rubbed Oren's head like he was a dog.

She led Oren all the way to the eighth floor. Along the way, Oren saw magical staircases, moving portraits, and old geezers wandering around at midnight instead of sleeping, taking their cats for walks.

"Dragon dung." After Professor McGonagall gave the password to a portrait called the Fat Lady, the portrait moved aside and revealed a passage.

Professor McGonagall said, "This is Gryffindor Tower, where Gryffindor students rest."

The two entered the tower. McGonagall looked at the doors to the boys' dormitory and girls' dormitory in the common room, seeming to hesitate over something.

Oren spoke up. "Professor McGonagall?"

A trace of regret appeared on Professor McGonagall's face as she led Oren toward the boys' dormitory door.

Professor, something is wrong with you. What were you hesitating over just now? And why do you look regretful now?

Professor McGonagall pushed open a door and said, "Child, you'll stay here for now. Remember to see Headmaster Dumbledore tomorrow."

"After all, he said he would personally guide you. Take this map as well. You can explore Hogwarts Castle during your free time."

Lying on the bed, Oren tossed the map aside and sighed inwardly, This day has been absurdly magical. This morning, I was still barely surviving in the wilderness of a small valley.

At noon, Dumbledore shoved a wizard's hat onto my head and drafted me into school.

And by night, I was already lying in a big bed in a Gryffindor dormitory, pondering my life.