"H-Hogwarts?"
Hearing the young man's words, Jon's face showed utter shock.
Floating in front of him was a parchment, boldly titled "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Admission Notice" in English. The letter was quite long, but, apart from the title, the entire content was written in characters Jon had never seen before. At the bottom of the parchment, a crest was stamped—but it wasn't the one he remembered with the lion, eagle, badger, and snake around an "H."
Instead, a dark green serpent curled around the "H," its mouth open in a hiss.
Jon had, of course, read the *Harry Potter* series and watched the films. In fact, only a week before his arrival in this strange world, he'd rewatched the first four movies, and the entire magical tale was still fresh in his mind. Yet, he could never have expected that he'd actually end up in *Harry Potter's* magical world!
The floating parchment in front of him and the feathered quill hovering eagerly near his hand were certainly no simple magic tricks. Up close, Jon could see that neither was held by any invisible strings or sleight of hand. They simply floated mid-air.
Everything—the young man's black-robed attire, the era they seemed to be in, the school's name, and the magical display—all confirmed to Jon that he had indeed arrived in the world of *Harry Potter*. But instead of feeling thrilled, he grew increasingly calm, and an unsettling feeling gnawed at him.
Why didn't the Hogwarts crest match his memory?
Why was this method of inviting new students so different from what he remembered in the original story?
Why was the letter written in a strange, unintelligible language, aside from the English title?
Who exactly was this black-robed young man inviting him to enroll? Which professor from Hogwarts was he?
Jon knew he couldn't ask these questions outright just yet. As he hesitated, wondering how to address the stranger, the young man spoke first.
"I've learned about your life here, Mr. Green."
His voice was gentle and patient, as if he had all the time in the world to explain the magic school.
"More than a year ago, something happened that the Muggles around you couldn't understand. That's your magical talent revealing itself. The people at the orphanage couldn't accept the existence of magic, so they rejected you."
"But things will be different at Hogwarts. There, you'll be among your kind. You'll have similar backgrounds, similar abilities, and you won't face the same rejection. Professors will even teach you magic."
"When you arrive, there will be a welcoming feast, warm common rooms, different delicious meals every day, kind professors, friendly students… Hogwarts Castle is the best place for you."
The young man's words were steady, but Jon sensed an underlying impatience, almost as if he had forgotten to introduce himself.
"Sir, you…" Jon started.
"You only need to sign your name on this notice, Mr. Green. Or is there something you doubt about what I've told you?" he asked with a smile.
His smile seemed trustworthy enough for a child, but Jon noticed that his expression didn't match the coldness hidden in his eyes. This contrast only made Jon feel more uneasy.
"No, I don't have any doubts, sir, but…"
"If there's no doubt, then sign the admission notice. We still have other things to do—like getting your wand and uniform."
Once again, the young man interrupted Jon's question with a smile, urging him to sign. The feathered quill nudged itself into Jon's hand, guiding him to place it on the parchment. Jon hesitated, though, still wanting to know the identity of this mysterious recruiter.
"Sir, you still haven't…"
"Sign!"
The young man, seemingly unable to hold back any longer, suddenly shouted at him!
Just then, a blinding red light shot from behind the young man, crossing over ten meters in an instant and striking him in the back. Thankfully, a transparent shield tinged with red light appeared around him, deflecting the spell, though the shield itself started to crack.
The young man's former gentle smile vanished, his expression turning cold and hateful. From his left sleeve, he drew a small wand and aimed it toward the source of the red light, launching his counterattack without hesitation.
"Stupefy!"
A similar red light shot from his wand, hitting the ground where the attacker stood, spraying earth everywhere.
The attacker was a woman with striking, deep red hair and bright green eyes. She wore a tattered gray robe, looking travel-worn, and after dodging the young man's counterattack, she charged toward Jon.
But just as she got within three meters of Jon, she halted, aiming her wand at the black-robed man, whose own wand tip now glowed a sinister green.
"Lily Potter! Don't think I wouldn't dare to use the Killing Curse on you!"
The young man sneered, eyes fixed on her.
Lily stood still, her wand poised, her voice like ice. "You wouldn't dare go against the orders of the master you follow as if he were your father, but you would harm this boy."
She extended her empty hand toward Jon.
"Come with me, Jon. I'll take you to the real Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"This woman is a fugitive wanted by the Ministry of Magic, Jon Green!"
The young man kept his wand steady, the green glow a clear warning.
"If you go with her, you'll end up on the Ministry's wanted list as well, labeled as a terrorist. Sign, child! By signing, you'll enroll at Hogwarts, the one true magic school recognized by the magical world—not that fake terrorist organization. I'll take you to a place where you belong, away from rejection and hardship. You won't have to wander with her and her kind."
He coaxed Jon, but Lily didn't bother to argue. She simply looked at Jon calmly, repeating her plea.
"Take my hand."
"Sign, Green!"
An odd stalemate hung in the air, and the most unexpected thing happened—Jon, who wasn't exactly powerful, realized he was the only one who could break the deadlock.
In those brief minutes, Jon had been bombarded with information, yet he felt surprisingly clear-headed, especially after hearing the name of the red-haired witch.
Lily Potter.
Jon knew both the name and the surname well, but if he really was in the world of *Harry Potter*, this woman shouldn't even be alive!
So he didn't immediately trust her, despite her name. If it was the *real* Lily, he could, of course, rely on her—but who could prove this was the same Lily who should've died ten years ago?
He looked at the young man in the black robe, gripping the quill, and took a deep breath, finally asking the question that had been interrupted several times.
"What I meant to ask, sir, is that you still haven't introduced yourself."
In such a tense moment, the question seemed out of place, but Jon wanted an answer. The young man stifled his frustration, smiling patiently as if Jon's curiosity was a child's whim.
"My apologies, Mr. Green. I've been forgetting to introduce myself. I am a senior agent with the Ministry of Magic at Hogwarts and the Charms professor—Bartemius Crouch…"
Hearing the name, Jon froze. He'd first thought of the stern, elderly head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Bartemius Crouch.
Bartemius Crouch…
Wait!
Not *that* Bartemius Crouch! It must be… Barty Crouch Jr.!
Realizing this, Jon had no doubts left. The decision was obvious.
He slapped the admission notice away, dropped the quill, and placed his hand firmly in Lily's!
Lily looked surprised by Jon's reaction but swiftly moved, brandishing her wand with fluid precision.
"Apparate!"
In an instant, both their bodies twisted, forming a vortex, and vanished without a trace.
The young man—Barty Crouch Jr., now properly called—was left mid-sentence.
"…At Hogwarts, I could provide you with enough support…"
As his words hung in the air, Crouch stared blankly at the now empty courtyard. His false expression finally cracked, leaving a contorted, furious scowl. Veins throbbed across his pale forehead, and he growled Jon's name through clenched teeth.
"Jon! Green! Damn it! Filthy Mudblood!"