Chapter 5: It's Time to Stir Up Some Trouble!

The Fidelius Charm is quite miraculous.

Ever since Winky and Barty Crouch Jr moved into the underground bunker, Barty Crouch Sr couldn't find his son's location anymore. But he knows that his son will be living safely and comfortably.

And, because he didn't have to face his son every day, Crouch Sr's life became somewhat calm and quiet.

The only problem... Is taking care of Wilson Wright.

Since they didn't have a house elf, the two of them had been eating roasted potatoes, fried potatoes, and mashed potatoes with various sauces for nearly half a month...

Until Wilson couldn't take it anymore, and managed to stir-fry some hot and sour shredded potatoes, making Crouch Sr suddenly feel that taking care of the little guy wasn't too bad.

Over a month passed.

Wilson's eleventh birthday finally arrived.

August 8th, early in the morning.

A strange owl landed by the mailbox, holding a letter in its sharp beak. Tilting its head, it dropped the letter into the mailbox and flew away flapping its wings.

Since Crouch Sr had left to work at the Ministry of Magic, only Wilson saw the owl. He simply took the letter out of the mailbox in advance.

Sure enough, it was an acceptance letter from Hogwarts.

Children in Britain and Ireland who show signs of magic in their bodies before the start of the school term will receive a Hogwarts acceptance letter on their eleventh birthday.

If a child's birthday is before the start of term, like Wilson Wright's on August 8th, they will receive an acceptance letter from Hogwarts...

If a child's birthday is after the start of term, then they will have to wait another year.

In the middle of the envelope is the letter "H" surrounded by four animals, each symbolizing one of Hogwarts' four houses.

Eagle, Ravenclaw.

Lion, Gryffindor.

Badger, Hufflepuff.

Snake, Slytherin.

Wilson Wright carefully tore open the envelope and took out two sheets of paper, gazing down at the content on the first page.

[Dear Mr. Wright:

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment.

The term will begin on September 1st. We will await your reply by owl no later than August 15th.

Deputy Headmistress

Minerva McGonagall]

The wording of this acceptance letter is quite polite.

If a Muggle who has never heard of magic and wizards, sees this acceptance letter, they would not feel any resentment.

Perhaps more of a leisurely fascination.

Wilson had never met Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall or the Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts, but he knew from the portrayal in the movies and books of his past life that this old lady, beneath her humble appearance, possessed a strength and discipline that ordinary wizard could hardly attain.

Wilson turned to the second page of the letter, where the content was more complex, with many terms that muggles had never heard of.

[Uniform] First-year students need:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One pointed hat for day wear (black)

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar material)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note: All student clothing must be labeled with the student's name tag.]

Just reading about these uniforms alone, Wilson couldn't help but furrow his brow. First-year students at Hogwarts are usually around eleven years old, and most of them are still growing. One set of clothes won't last a year or two before they have to be replaced...

Wilson furrowed his brow more as he looked at the densely packed book list below. There are so many new books a first-year student needs to prepare in advance...

[Textbooks] All students must prepare the following books:

"Standard Spells, Beginner's Level," by Miranda Goshawk

"History of Magic," by Bathilda Bagshot

"Magical Theory," by Adalbert Waffling

"Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration," by Emeric Switch

"A Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi," by Phyllida Spore

"Magical Drafts and Potions," by Arsenius Jigger

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," by Newt Scamander

"Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection," by Quentin Trimble]

Wilson felt the lack of his own knowledge. Among the authors of the textbooks, he had only heard of Newt Scamander, who seemed to have married an American witch...

Apart from these textbooks.

The remaining items on the list are relatively simple.

[Other Equipment]

One wand

One cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

A set of glass or crystal vials

A telescope

A brass scale

Students may bring one owl, cat, or toad.

Parents are especially reminded that first-year students are not allowed to bring flying broomsticks {referring to broomsticks ridden by witches and wizards}]

Having finished reading all the lists, Wilson Wright shook his head helplessly. These things definitely needed Barty Crouch's help to prepare.

However.

Receiving this acceptance letter was also good news.

Because there exists a set of richly rewarding consecutive mainline tasks in the system, and now the first task of receiving the acceptance letter has been prompted as completed.

[First Task, Received acceptance letter from Hogwarts (1/1), task completed, rewarded with an increase of 200 points to magic power limit, magic spell: Occlumency.]

[Occlumency: Advanced Mastery of Passive Magical Ability. No need for self-closure of the mind, capable of freely manipulating the display and concealment of one's memories.]

Occlumency is a very practical ability.

Because wizards are very skilled at extracting memories from people using Legilimency, now with advanced proficiency in Mind Closure, he can deceive even someone like Voldemort when it comes to extracting memories.

Wilson Wright believed that the reward for the first task was mainly to help him evade the Hogwarts sorting ceremony, as at that time the Sorting Hat would probe the emotions and memories of the new students.

However.

This ability is just an additional precaution.

Wilson doesn't want the Sorting Hat on his head.

Who knows how peculiar the Sorting Hat left by Hogwarts founder Godric Gryffindor can be? If the Sorting Hat doesn't pronounce any of the house names but instead mentions Azkaban on the spot, the atmosphere might get a bit awkward...

It shouldn't be very likely.

Wilson is not a bad person after all.

[Second Task, Join one of Hogwarts' houses (0/1), choose any one, and will receive different magic skill rewards according to the chosen house.]

[Choose Ravenclaw House (0/1), rewarded with an increase of 200 points to magic power, magic skill: Lifeline Beam]

[Choose Gryffindor House (0/1), rewarded with an increase of 200 points to health, magic skill: Hunt Rhythm]

[Choose Hufflepuff House (0/1), rewarded with an increase of 200 points to health, magic skill: Void Feast]

[Choose Slytherin House (0/1), rewarded with an increase of 200 points to magic power, magic skill: Petrifying Gaze]

Considering only the rewards from the system, Wilson should opt for Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, as the health bonus is rare in the Wizarding world. Who wouldn't want to become a melee wizard in the Wizarding world?

Of course.

Wilson Wright is well aware that he wants to join Hufflepuff House because it has the largest number of students, and the young wizards inside are honest and kind...

Hmm...

The temperament of this house matches him very well.

Additionally, the Void Feast magic skill of this house also boosts his health significantly, which can greatly compensate for his weaknesses.

However...

Wilson wants to join Hufflepuff, but the difficulty is almost as daunting as reaching the sky because he can't recall many memories that align with the honest and kind qualities of Hufflepuff...

This is a bit awkward.

"I need only stir up a bit of trouble first, so that the headmaster of Hogwarts can prepare himself for the possibility that I may cause some mischief at school..."

Wilson helplessly retrieved a piece of paper from the drawer, took up the quill on the desk, and penned down two words.