'Dumbledore?'
???
.....
"Meow meow meow?"
'Where am I? Who am I? What am I doing?'
'Didn't he get reborn 39 years ago, with a cheat and future knowledge.'
He was planning to use all these things to get rich, marry a beautiful woman, and reach the pinnacle of life.
Now, why the hell was Dumbledore showing up out of nowhere?
'Sigh.... I should have known, isn't this the Wool's Orphanage the place where Voldemort spent his childhood? No wonder the name seems familiar.'
In this instant, countless thoughts crossed Alaric's mind, but in the end, he buried all the doubts in his heart, not revealing any emotions on the surface.
"Hello, Mr. Dumbledore, and Mrs. Cole." He stepped aside and gestured, "Please come in and have a seat."
"Oh, no need, Alaric." Mrs. Cole smiled and waved her hand, "Mr. Dumbledore wants to have a private chat with you, so I won't disturb you two."
With that, she closed the door.
Soon, the sound of creaking stairs descending echoed from outside.
"Well then, hello child." Dumbledore looked at Alaric kindly, introducing himself, "I am the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Hello, Mr. Dumbledore." Alaric calmly greeted, but there was a hint of excitement in his eyes.
This excitement was not because of meeting Dumbledore, but due to the thrill of transmigrating into a different world. However, it created a misunderstanding for Dumbledore.
"It seems you're not surprised by the term 'magic.' It looks like you've already realized your uniqueness." Dumbledore raised an eyebrow playfully, snapped his fingers, and Alaric's teacup on the desk automatically filled with tea.
"Oh! Cool!" Seeing this scene, Alaric felt a bit envious. However, he also showed off to Dumbledore. The spoon in the tea tray trembled and flew into the cup with a "clink."
This surprised Dumbledore. He had never seen a young child possess such powerful magic before mastering it.
Typically, wizards at a young age had insufficient magical capacity and lacked control over their magic. Even ordinary wizards found it difficult to perform magic without the help of a wand.
Although this trick's application of magic was a bit rough, it was relative to adult wizards. It already proved that Alaric was a genuine magical genius.
"I thought about it when I discovered this superpower." Alaric pretended to explain.
"I feel that I'm not the only one with magic—or superpowers. But people around me think that magic or superpowers don't exist. I believe there's an organization covering it all up. Perhaps they are like me, and maybe they will come looking for me."
"You're quite a clever child. So, would you like to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and learn more about magic with your peers?" Dumbledore asked kindly.
"Of course, Mr. Dumbledore, I look forward to my future life in the school." Alaric smiled, revealing a childlike eagerness.
Despite being a teenager in his previous life, he was now a young boy and was very excited about being in this childhood fantasy world, especially learning about magic, a book and previously unexplored knowledge.
What was the internet? Who cared about the world's richest person? Who cared about beautiful women? None of that mattered now.
What wealth could compare to the power of magic? What beauty could surpass Hermione, the "know-it-all" girl, and the charming Fleur Delacour, all these leading and supporting female characters?
At last who could forget Cho Chang, the most underrated girl in the book.
Although the magical world had Death Eaters and Voldemort causing trouble, the overall danger level was not that high—especially since the power of the Light wizards always stood at its peak.
The final crisis only arose because Dumbledore himself set up a plan to permanently defeat Voldemort.
Moreover, opportunities and dangers coexisted. Alaric's gift was not like a typical system with clear guidance and a planned path.
To further develop his abilities—especially time and space abilities—learning magic seemed like the best idea for now. He also hoped to explore various worlds and experience diverse lives in the future.
Next, Alaric and Dumbledore chatted for a while. Although he had some knowledge from books and movies, Alaric, like a curious child, asked many questions about the magical world. Dumbledore patiently answered each one.
Finally, Dumbledore stood up and said, "It's getting late now, we should head to Diagon Alley. There, we can purchase the necessary items for your enrollment in Hogwarts. Do you have enough pounds?"
"Of course, Mr. Dumbledore." Alaric took out his wallet from the drawer, pulled out a stack of pounds, and said, "In fact, I've been submitting articles to children's magazines and earned a decent sum in royalties. I think it should be enough."
"That's good." Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction. "Let's get going then."
"Himari, let's go." Before leaving, Alaric opened his backpack for Himari on the windowsill. The little white cat leaped in skillfully, showing only its head.
After bidding farewell to Mrs. Cole and the curious onlookers, the two left Wool's Orphanage and, led by Dumbledore, entered a deserted alley.