chp5

It was the 1st of September. Hecate woke up early, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She quietly prepared her luggage, careful not to make any noise. She glanced at her sister Lily, still asleep in the bed next to hers. Taking a deep breath, she placed a note on Lily's bed.

The note was brief. She explained that she had received an opportunity to study abroad with full sponsorship, so their parents wouldn't need to worry about the costs or her farewell. It was a simple goodbye letter, and she knew it would be sufficient for her neglectful parents. As for Lily, Hecate didn't think much about it; after all, in two years, they would meet again at Hogwarts. She wasn't planning on returning to the Evans house ever again.

-------Dear Family,

I wanted to let you know that I have been given a remarkable opportunity to study abroad. This opportunity is fully sponsored, so you won't need to worry about any costs. This is something I must do for myself, and I hope you can understand.

To my parents, I wish you well. Our relationship has always been distant, and I know you never really cared much for me. That's fine because I've learned to take care of myself. I hope you find happiness in your lives.

Lily, my sister, we will meet again . Until then, take care of yourself and continue to be the bright light you are.

This is goodbye, for now and forever. I won't be coming back to the Evans house. I'm moving on to a place where I can truly belong.

petunia------

With her belongings packed and her note left behind, Hecate quietly slipped out of the house. The morning air was crisp, and the sky was just beginning to lighten with the dawn. She flagged down a cab and directed the driver to King's Cross Station. The driver, a middle-aged man with a kind face, chatted amiably during the ride, but Hecate's mind was elsewhere. She was stepping into a new life, leaving behind everything she had known.

At King's Cross Station, Hecate stood before the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, knowing she had to walk straight at the seemingly solid wall. With a deep breath, she pushed her trolley forward and felt a strange sensation as she passed through the barrier.

She emerged onto Platform 9¾, where the scarlet Hogwarts Express stood, steam billowing from its engine. The platform was bustling with students and their families, all saying their goodbyes and preparing for the journey ahead. Hecate's heart swelled with a mix of nerves and excitement as she boarded the train, quickly found an empty compartment near the middle of the train. She slid the door shut behind her, appreciating the brief moment of solitude. Setting her luggage down, she took out a book to read and settled into the corner seat by the window.

As the train chugged along, Hecate lost herself in the pages of her book, trying to distract herself from the whirlwind of thoughts about her new life at Hogwarts. Her peace was soon interrupted by the compartment door sliding open. A boy with a haughty demeanor and a girl who seemed rather shy entered. Both were already dressed in their Hogwarts uniforms, which, like Hecate's, lacked any signs of a house.

The boy, with a confident and somewhat mischievous smile, had an air of familiarity. He had a certain charisma and charm that was hard to ignore. He placed his luggage with a flourish and sat across from Hecate. The girl, more reserved, hesitated for a moment before quietly settling down beside him."Hello there," the boy said with an easy grin. "I'm James Potter. Mind if we join you?"

The girl beside him gave a small, polite smile. "I'm Isla Meadowes," she said softly, barely above a whisper.

Hecate was a bit taken aback by the familiar name. This was James Potter—her future brother-in-law and the notorious bully who would torment Severus Snape. She briefly considered the implications of this encounter but quickly decided it was not worth her concern.

Both of them turned their attention to Hecate, who was still engrossed in her book. She could feel their eyes on her, waiting for an introduction. With a sigh, she marked her place in the book and looked up.

"Hecate Targaryen," she said simply before returning to her reading.

james raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her unusual surname, but said nothing. Isla gave a small nod, and the compartment fell int6o an uneasy silence. Despite the company, Hecate remained focused on her book, determined to prepare herself for the year ahead.

Though Hecate quickly lost interest in James, viewing him as just another 11-year-old who might not have much relevance to her, James couldn't help but be intrigued. The name "Hecate Targaryen" was far from ordinary in the wizarding world and did not resemble any Muggle names he was familiar with. It piqued his curiosity.

James noticed that Hecate's posture exuded a sense of nobility and elegance. This was not surprising; even in her past life, Hecate had attended many high-end gatherings and had been well-versed in etiquette essential for maintaining a prestigious reputation. Those lessons seemed to have carried over into this life. Her demeanor was polished and poised, far beyond what one would expect from a typical 11-year-old.

Additionally, James was captivated by her physical appearance. Her striking blue-purplish eyes, combined with her straight black hair and pale skin, gave her an air of high birth. Everything about her—from her regal bearing to her mature attitude—suggested that she was not an ordinary student. His curiosity about her background and the story behind her unusual name continued to build, even as Hecate returned to her book, seemingly indifferent to his interest.

As Hecate maintained her poker face, she couldn't help but reflect internally on her current situation.

**[Hecate's POV]**

*Why did I choose such an eye-catching name?* she mused. *Ah, well, I don't regret it too much. Ignoring the curious glances from James and the other student, I need to focus on more pressing matters.*

*From birth until now, I've dedicated considerable effort to mastering the art of maintaining a Time loop. I can proudly say I've managed to create and sustain a loop in one place at a time. However, I still struggle with some of the drawbacks, particularly the challenge of returning to my actual age once I step out of the loop.*

*Here's what I've discovered so far:*

1. **Setting Up a Time Loop:**

*To establish a Time loop, the first requirement is to have a clear mental image of the range of the loop. Currently, my capacity is somewhat limited, allowing me to encase only the Evans house, which is rather modest. Ideally, I'd like to expand this range.*

2. **Fixed Location or Base:**

*A critical component is having a fixed location or a base. For me, this means I must have a specific point from which the loop is anchored. The location or base acts as the anchor around which the loop is created.*

3. **Precise Timing:**

*Finally, knowing the exact start time of the loop is crucial. The loop must be restarted at the precise moment to maintain its structure. Any deviation from this exact timing can cause the loop to collapse.*

*My hypothesis is to transform the base from a physical location into something more abstract—namely, myself. By making myself the anchor for the Time loop, I aim to reduce the range to only encompass me and the smallest possible entourage. This approach would theoretically solve the problem of having to rely on a fixed physical location.*

*The difficulty of this new approach is immense. The challenge lies in manipulating the range to encompass only myself and a minimal surrounding area. Currently, I'm in the initial testing phase of this concept. It's complex and requires precise control over both time and space.*

*But if I can master this, it would greatly enhance my ability to use Time loops more effectively, and might even help in overcoming the issues related to aging when stepping out of them.*

*For now, I'll continue experimenting and refining this ability, while keeping my focus on the tasks at hand.*

As Hecate observed her surroundings and maintained her composure, her thoughts continued to wander to her magical studies.

*Regarding my magic, I've been cautious not to rush into learning spells on my own. Even though I can sense the flow of every last bit of magic circulating within me and feel capable of manipulating it, I prefer to have a clear, structured example to follow. Call me paranoid, but magic is far too unpredictable to experiment with recklessly.*

*I'm not eager to start causing chaos or blowing things up just yet. My approach is to observe and learn with precision. I am particularly interested in the Transfiguration class. The ability to transform objects and understand the underlying principles of magical change fascinates me.*

*Transfiguration will be my primary focus, along with Charms. I believe mastering these areas will give me a solid foundation in magic. As for Potions, while it may hold some intrigue, I'm not particularly enthusiastic about brewing concoctions, especially when it involves mixing ingredients like lizard tails. I'll keep an open mind and see how it goes, but for now, it's not at the top of my list.*

*Overall, my strategy is to approach my magical education with patience and a measured interest, making sure to build a strong base before delving into more complex or unpredictable aspects of magic.*