Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me from Studying

Wade Gray lay by the window and saw a gray owl perched on the fence outside. It stared at him seriously with its amber eyes, then suddenly lowered its head, spread its wings, and made a "coo" sound.

Wade had a peculiar expression on his face. If he hadn't seen wrongly just now, it seemed that the owl had just dropped a letter into his mailbox?

But...

This was only 1991, and the "Harry Potter" series hadn't been published yet, right?

Having been reborn into this world for eleven years, growing from a babbling baby to an eleven-year-old, he always thought he had just been reborn into the original world's Britain and had planned his life's development accordingly...

He never thought... he'd receive a letter from an owl.

Isn't this supposed to be a materialistic world?

But... if people can get reborn, then if magic exists... maybe it's also... quite reasonable...

—Isn't that right?

—Or perhaps it's just a bad joke.

Feeling uncertain, Wade opened the door and went out. Instinctively, he looked at the owl, whose gaze followed him, its head turning slightly.

Whether it was psychological, Wade felt that the eyes of the owl were full of spirit.

He held his breath, opened the mailbox, and took out the mysterious letter. When he saw the envelope, his pupils shrank sharply, and his heart skipped a beat.

On the envelope, his detailed address was clearly written, along with "Mr. Wade Gray." The parchment was unusually heavy, and the emerald green ink was not a common color.

Turning over the envelope, the back bore a deep red wax seal with a shield crest, surrounded by a lion, eagle, badger, and snake, encircling a capital "H."

No postage stamps.

—Of course! An owl delivering mail! No need for stamps.

Wade took a deep breath and, with trembling fingers, opened the envelope.

[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore]

Wade eagerly skipped the long string of titles and looked directly at the text below: [Dear Mr. Gray: We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry... Deputy Headmistress (Female) Minerva McGonagall]

Wade read the letter several times over, still finding it hard to believe—was this actually the world of "Harry Potter"?

He unconsciously muttered, "Is this real? Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

The owl stared at him wisely, waited for a moment, then lowered its head to preen its feathers, tucked up one foot, and turned its head 180 degrees to look at the scenery behind.

Wade was in a daze for a moment before turning quickly back into the house, rushing into his father's study. He found the best envelope, embossed and sprinkled with gold powder stationery, and using a feather quill with a classic charm and scented ink, he solemnly wrote:

"Dear Madam Minerva McGonagall: It is a great honor to receive your letter. If this is not a prank, then I would be delighted to attend your esteemed school. However, I am unsure how to purchase the study materials mentioned in the letter and eagerly await your guidance...

With sincerest regards, wishing you all the best! Wade Gray"

The ink seeped into the paper and quickly dried. Wade folded it up, tucked it into the envelope, and wrote "Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall (Recipient)" on the front.

Upon going out, he saw the owl still patiently waiting on the fence.

Wade approached it, holding up the letter: "Um... this is my reply; please take it to Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall."

The owl extended a claw to grasp the letter, then tilted its head, looking at him expectantly.

"Is there something else... Oh, just a moment!"

An idea flashed in Wade's mind. He went back inside and grabbed a handful of nuts at random. After handing them to the owl, it merely looked down, then disdainfully brushed them aside with its wing and took off with a flap.

Wade: "..."

Not interested?

Fortunately, it didn't drop the letter.

Only then did Wade begin to feel a sense of reality about being accepted into Hogwarts.

But...

In the eleven years since being reborn into this world, he never discovered any extraordinary abilities—

He never found himself flying onto trees without reason, nor did he bend spoons with his mind or make pens float in the air.

Did his body really contain magical energy?

Or is it—because an adult's mind is too rational and objective, unknowingly suppressing the innate power within his body?

Wade clenched his fist, then opened it, still not feeling any sensation of 'invisible magic flowing through his body.'

He stared intently at a teacup in front of him, concentrating intensely on imagining.

"Clatter!"

The teacup suddenly wobbled without being touched, then tipped over, rolling around the table before coming to a stop, rocking slowly.

Magic... it really exists...

Wade stared dumbfounded at his palm.

Once his emotions settled, he dialed a phone number he knew by heart.

"Mom... do you believe... that magic exists?"

...

In less than half an hour, a car screeched to a halt outside. The Gray couple rushed down, even forgetting to take the car keys with them.

Wade went out to greet them and was almost overwhelmed by a suffocating hug before he could even say hello.

"Oh, my goodness! Wade, dear, you were actually accepted into Hogwarts—I'm so happy! Really... I've waited so long for this day—I thought—I thought you were like us, without—that opportunity—"

His mother, Fiona, sobbed as she spoke, tears streaking her makeup, which she didn't care about at all. Wade's father, Ferdinand, hugged them both, although he said nothing, his eyes were also wet.

Wade listened, realizing something was off: "Wait, what do you mean? You—" He broke free from his parents' suffocating embrace: "You both know about Hogwarts?"

"Of course!" Fiona said, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. "My mother and your grandparents were wizards. I've always hoped to go to Hogwarts since I was young. It's just..."

Ferdinand placed his hands on their shoulders, guiding them inside: "Let's talk inside—to avoid being seen by the Muggles."

After an explanation, Wade finally understood.

His grandparents and maternal grandmother were wizards from both sides of the family, who were on good terms. But due to wars and turmoil, Fiona and Ferdinand, who were born amidst it all, turned out to be Squibs—people with magical genes who can't actually perform magic.

In the chaos and bloodshed, wizards had a hard time even keeping themselves safe, let alone two Squibs. Once it was confirmed they couldn't do magic, both were placed with Muggle families.

Years passed, and they adjusted completely to Muggle life, though they still harbored dreams about the wizarding world.

However, Wade had never shown any magical ability since he was born. They thought he was a Squib too and, to spare him the pain of transitioning from hope to disappointment, concealed the existence of magic.

"I never thought—I really didn't expect—you're actually a wizard... I mean—I've been waiting all this time, but now it's July 30th, and you still haven't received a letter... I thought..."

Fiona, caught between tears and laughter, was eventually calmed down by the father and son and went to freshen up.

Once quiet, Ferdinand looked at his eleven-year-old son with an undisguisable concern:

"Hogwarts... sigh, Wade... I really don't know if, given your situation, attending that school is a good thing..."

(The chapter ends here)