STARTING AT HOGWARTS

1986

London, England

In the heart of the city, a small room on the second floor of a townhouse by the window came to life.

The room was modest, decorated simply with white walls, wooden floors, a bed, a table, a wardrobe, and white curtains. A few green plants placed by the window brought a touch of life to the space.

However, the simplicity of the room contrasted sharply with the extraordinary events unfolding within.

A little boy with golden hair and blue eyes, wearing a white shirt and jeans, looked to be about five or six years old. He was staring intently at the table in front of him, his face slightly flushed as if he was exerting a great deal of effort.

And strangely, on the table he was fixated on, a pencil was trembling and levitating above the surface.

"It's up, it's up!!!"

Li William watched with excitement plastered across his face.

Li William, six years old, was a time traveler.

Before this life, he was an orphan who, through perseverance, had bought a car and a house before turning 30. He had married a wealthy woman a few years his senior, attractive and shapely, who brought with her a dowry of 3 million pounds in exchange for his hand in marriage.

Then, seeking relaxation on a hiking trip, he was caught in a landslide and died instantly.

But when he closed his eyes for the last time in that life, he opened them anew as a baby in this strange world.

Overjoyed, he didn't ponder the mechanics of his rebirth—after all, who wouldn't relish the chance to live again after death?

Observing his surroundings, he discovered that the technological level resembled that of the 1970s and 1980s.

Thrilled, he thought to use his knowledge from the future to excel in this era, to amass wealth and live lavishly.

But as he grew, his initial excitement waned as he learned more about his new world through news, television, and overheard conversations.

Yes, the technology was decades old, but this world was far from ordinary.

This was a world that mirrored the fantastical realms of American comics, teeming with heroes and villains, with entities like Stark Industries and groups like the X-Men and SHIELD. He learned of a historical hero named Steve, known as the captain, who heroically thwarted Hydra's dark schemes.

Realizing this, Li William felt his early ambitions drain away. Without personal power, his plans for a grandiose life seemed futile.

In his past life, he had understood the harshness of reality—the survival of the fittest. Here, though, the stakes were higher; not just cunning and connections, but sheer power ruled.

With no superhuman abilities of his own, even in the face of ordinary mutants, he was powerless.

But one morning, everything changed.

He awoke feeling a strange, nascent power stirring within him. Had this been his old world, he might have dismissed it as imagination. But here, in a world of superheroes and genetic marvels, he suspected something more—perhaps the awakening of his X-gene.

Though uncertain of the nature of his newfound ability, he was determined to explore his potential. Testing his powers, he tried to manipulate fire, electricity, even teleportation.

And then, as he focused, the floating pencil dropped back onto the table, and he felt a sudden drain, a weakness that flooded his body. Yet, he was ecstatic. His theory was confirmed—he had awakened.

Though his ability seemed weak and fleeting, it was a start. And like all mutants, he knew his powers could grow stronger with time and practice.

But a dilemma presented itself: should he reveal this to his parents? They had been nothing but loving, and he did not wish to burden them with worry or place them in danger. Mutants were often feared and mistreated.

Deciding it was safer for them to be informed and prepared than ignorant and vulnerable, he resolved to share his secret.

Determined, Li William turned from the window and made his way downstairs to speak with his parents.