Chapter 2

No one moved. Everyone froze in place for at least half an hour, or at least that's how it felt. In reality, it was only about ten seconds. Albert bent down and picked up the pale yellow envelope. It was an unstamped letter with a line written in emerald-green ink. He read it out:

19 Tibe Avenue, Mr. Albert Anderson

As Albert read this text, he realised that he had triggered a task:

The Wizarding Way

You have the potential to become a wizard, but you are not yet qualified. Now you have a precious opportunity to go to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and become a student.

Rewards: 10,000 experience, 2 skill points, and a wizarding bloodline of +1.

Wizarding bloodline? Albert was stunned. What did that mean?

What the heck is going on here?

Two skill points are very tempting, but Albert would only gain one if he went to Eton. It took him a long time to earn three skill points, and he's not eager to part with any soon. But even worse is the fact that this seems to be a world of fiction.

Am I in the magical world of Harry Potter?

Albert turned the envelope over and saw the Hogwarts shield coat of arms, with the capital "H" surrounded by a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake.

"Mum, do zoos train owls to be postmen now?" Nina stared at the owl that was nearby.

"Nina, I don't think anyone normal would send a letter with an owl. Maybe this is just a prank," Daisy said, looking at her husband. Herb's brows were furrowed in frustration, and Daisy asked, "What's wrong, dear?"

"Nothing, Albert; show me the letter," Herbert whispered.

"Oh, here," Albert said, handing the envelope to his father.

"Honey!" Daisy was a little upset that they did not include her in the conversation.

Ignoring the displeased look on his wife's face, Herbert opened the envelope, took out the parchment inside, and glanced at it. "Children, our plans are going to be postponed," he said.

"Dear, what happened? What's written in the letter?" Daisy felt her husband was acting a little strange, and her tone couldn't help but become more annoyed.

"Dad, what's in the letter?" Nina asked, eyeing her father expectantly. But Albert, who had received the letter, remained quiet.

"Go back to the living room, Daisy," Herbert said as he closed the car door and headed back inside with his family.

Even after the door to the house was closed, the owl carrying the letter remained outside, refusing to leave.

"Herbert, you'd better give me a proper explanation," Daisy said, her anger clear on her face. She had been looking forward to seeing her son in his Eton College uniform.

"Dad, read the letter out loud for everyone," Albert said. "I also want to know about this magical school."

Despite his composed demeanour, he knew that the contents of the letter were likely shocking to anyone who hadn't experienced the "crossing" and "panel" incidents.

He was shocked to find himself living in a world straight out of a novel. It's not as strange as it might seem, though. After all, this guy has read the best-selling novel "Harry Potter" and even wrote one himself. He did a lot of research and gained some understanding of the worldview and order inside of this novel.

"I'll read it then," Herbert said, glancing at his son, who remained composed. He then began reading the contents of the parchment aloud:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards)

Daisy stared in surprise at the letter in her husband's hand. "Hogwarts, a school for magic?" she whispered in disbelief.

Nina's face was filled with excitement. "Is there magic in this world?" she exclaimed. "I want to learn magic, too. I want to go to a magic school!"

Nina was not pleased. She looked at her brother Albert with frustration as he picked her up and held her. "I hate you, Albert. Let me go!" she cried, trying to reach for the letter.

Albert held her back. "Nina, let Father finish reading my letter," he said, motioning to their father to continue. He led their angry mother to sit down as well.

Herbert coughed and tried to continue reading the letter before he was interrupted.

"Son, I will never let you go to Hogwash," Daisy said, her anger clear in her voice. She thought her husband might have some answers. Herbert coughed softly and continued reading.

Dear Mr. Anderson,

We are pleased to inform you that we have accepted you at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all the necessary books and equipment. The term begins on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

[Deputy Headmistress]

Herbert finished reading the letter and handed it to his son. Albert placed his sister down so he could glance at it, and then passed it to his curious sister. She grasped the letter and ran to her mother. After carefully reading through the contents of the letter, Daisy spoke up.

"I will never agree to let Albert go to this kind of school. There must be someone playing a trick on us. Maybe we should call the police and catch the culprit," she said sternly.

"Mum, is the owl waiting for you to write back to them?" Nina asked suddenly.

Daisy didn't respond but glared at her husband with oppressive eyes. Albert spoke up, "Dad, do you know something about this?"

"I don't know," Herbert said, reaching up to rub his head. He seemed to be caught in a brief memory of his past. "When I was about your age, my father, your grandfather, told me that he was disappointed that I didn't receive a letter from Hogwarts."

"I once asked my father what Hogwarts was, and he only said that it was a school. Later, when my father was drunk, I asked him why he wanted me to go to Hogwarts. He only said that he was a 'squib,' but I don't know what that word means." Herbert's tone was low as he remembered the time when his father had cried for the first time in front of him.

"I think now I know what Hogwarts is. If Father knew his grandson had received a letter from Hogwarts, he would be thrilled," Herbert concluded.

Albert knew what the word 'squib' meant, of course, but he never thought that he had anything to do with the wizarding world.

"Yes, I should write to him. No, I should call him! He will be thrilled!" Herbert exclaimed, as if planning to call his father.

"Herb Anderson!" Daisy exclaimed. "My son will go to Eton College. He will achieve things we can't even imagine, instead of going to a school that we've never heard of. When it comes to his future, I will never allow you..."

"Mum, we haven't yet determined whether magic exists," Albert said, stretching out his hand to stop his mother from running away. He comforted her saying, "Didn't the letter say that the owl is waiting for you to reply? Maybe we should write a letter back to them. Then we can wait for someone from Hogwarts to come and prove whether or not magic is real. If they can't prove it, then it's a lie."

"Well, son, I agree with you," Daisy said, clenching her fist and shaking it. "Let the school come and provide some truth to this letter. We'll wait and see. I'll call the police. I'll catch those crooks and then let them rot in prison for a few years."