Side-Along Apparition

In his room at the orphanage, Jerry recalled what he had said in the yard earlier and felt that he probably had not left too bad an impression on McGonagall.

Although he had beaten up several teenagers, he had just explained why. It could absolutely be considered an Act of Bravery.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Coming!"

Jerry's eyes immediately lit up at the sound of knocking. He sprang to his feet and opened the door.

The one knocking was the current headmaster of Edward Orphanage. Beside him stood a woman in her fifties or sixties, wearing square glasses, a Scottish blouse, and green robes.

"Mrs. McGonagall, this is the Jerry Carmen you were looking for!"

The Headmaster's tone was respectful, but Jerry caught a trace of fear in his expression.

Clearly, after arriving at the orphanage, Professor McGonagall had already explained the situation to the headmaster and demonstrated her abilities as a Wizard.

"Very well. Thank you for personally showing me the way, Headmaster Bryant. I would now like to speak with Mr. Carmen alone."

"No problem. I'll be on my way, then!"

The Headmaster hurriedly nodded and rushed out of the room.

"Hello, Mr. Carmen!"

Professor McGonagall closed the door behind her, walked into the room, and greeted Jerry first.

Jerry looked at Professor McGonagall and politely asked, "Hello. And you are?"

"I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as your future Transfiguration teacher. You may call me Professor McGonagall."

McGonagall gave a brief explanation.

Jerry immediately put on a look of sudden realization. "So you wrote the letter delivered by the owl yesterday. But does magic really exist in this world? And what kind of place is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

Little Wizards raised in Muggle environments always had similar doubts upon receiving their acceptance letters. McGonagall had long grown accustomed to this, and she also knew how to quickly earn a Little Wizard's trust.

"Verdimillious!"

She drew her wand and pointed it at the cup on the table. A beam of magical light shot out, and the cup immediately transformed into a plump orange tabby cat.

"Magic has always existed. As you were growing up, you should have experienced some incredible things. Those came from the power in your bloodline.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a school that teaches you how to learn and control magic."

Watching McGonagall's demonstration, Jerry could not help widening his eyes.

He had watched movies on television in his previous life, but seeing someone turn a cup into a cat with a casual wave of their hand was an entirely different experience.

Turning inanimate matter into living matter in an instant—Jerry felt that this was truly magical!

Twenty minutes later,

"That is the general situation. Is there anything else you would like to ask?"

Seeing that Jerry had completely believed her, McGonagall asked one final question.

"Professor, I really want to go to Hogwarts to learn magic, but you should know that I have no way to pay the tuition."

After thinking for a moment, Jerry raised his concern.

He remembered that Little Wizards born into Muggle families could exchange Muggle money for Gold Galleons at Gringotts. However, he doubted that the orphanage he was staying in would be willing to give him money to attend Hogwarts.

A faint smile appeared on Professor McGonagall's face.

"You needn't worry about that. The school will provide financial aid so you can study normally. You can repay it after you graduate and begin working."

"All right, then I have no more questions."

Jerry nodded. McGonagall had already explained the general situation, and he already understood some things due to his memories, so he had grasped it quickly.

"Very good, Mr. Carmen. It seems that you are not only very brave, but also highly perceptive!"

McGonagall looked at the remarkably calm Jerry, satisfaction in her eyes.

Earlier, from atop the orphanage wall, McGonagall had witnessed the entire bullying incident in the yard.

Jerry's performance at the time had also made her see him in a new light.

She felt that the courage and sense of responsibility displayed by this eleven-year-old child, along with the positive spirit in his words, were qualities many adult Wizards lacked.

To sum up McGonagall's opinion of him with a saying from Jerry's previous life:

"This child is destined for greatness!"

"All right. Since you understand the situation and are willing to study magic at Hogwarts, I'll take you to Diagon Alley today to buy everything you need for school!"

McGonagall took a pocket watch from her robes, checked the time, and rose from her seat.

"Diagon Alley?"

A surprised expression appeared on Jerry's face.

It was not that he did not know what Diagon Alley was for. He simply had not expected Professor McGonagall to personally take him shopping for school supplies after the home visit.

But after thinking it over, he understood.

Little Wizards from ordinary Wizarding families naturally did not need a Hogwarts teacher to take them to Diagon Alley.

Little Wizards from Muggle families had parents as well. As long as things were explained clearly to their parents, there would naturally be no problem.

Whenever Hermione went to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies, did her parents not accompany her?

But he was now an orphan. If Professor McGonagall did not take him to Diagon Alley, who would?

Relying on the orphanage headmaster or staff would be far too unreliable.

"That is a street that specializes in selling Wizarding goods. Everything you need for school must be bought there."

McGonagall thought Jerry did not know what Diagon Alley was, so she gave him a brief explanation.

"How are we getting there? By train?"

Jerry remembered that Diagon Alley seemed to be somewhere in London, while Winton Town, where he was, was quite a distance from central London.

"No. Take hold of my arm. It may be a little uncomfortable in a moment, so you will need to endure it."

McGonagall did not explain further. She simply held out an arm to Jerry.

Could it be...

Jerry's heart stirred as he immediately thought of something.

Sure enough, once Jerry took hold of Professor McGonagall's arm, he saw her draw her wand again and mutter softly:

"Side-Along Apparition!"

At once, Jerry felt as though Professor McGonagall's arm was about to wrench free from his grip, so he quickly clutched it tighter.

After a crackling series of sounds like exploding firecrackers, Jerry's surroundings instantly turned pitch-black, followed by intense pressure squeezing him from every direction.

He could not breathe at all. His chest felt as though several iron bands had been cinched tightly around it. His eyeballs were forced back into his head, and his eardrums were pressed deep into his skull.

The sensation was like being squeezed through an extremely narrow rubber tube.

It seemed to last a long time, yet it also seemed to take only an instant. Light appeared before his eyes once more.

He took several deep breaths to ease the dizziness in his head, then turned to look around. He and Professor McGonagall were no longer in the orphanage room, but had appeared on a street.