Carnie raised an eyebrow, taking a deep breath to calm himself. He had to make sure this wasn't some elaborate prank. Carefully, he pulled the letter from the envelope and began reading.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, First-Class Order of Merlin)
Dear Mr. Stran,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment. The school term begins on September 1st, and we await your owl with your response no later than July 31st.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Exhaling sharply, Carnie let out a relieved sigh. "Looks like it's real," he muttered. "But… I've never experienced anything strange before. How did I even qualify?"
Was it possible that he had some kind of hidden ability he hadn't discovered yet?
"Demacia! Hasagi! Iku! Dragon Roar Palm! Zapelli Beam! Kamehameha!"
Carnie unleashed a barrage of dramatic, over-the-top poses and shouts, making full use of every flashy move he could think of. The only result? An unimpressed owl silently watching his antics from the desk, as if judging his life choices.
Alright, time to be a little more realistic. He stretched out his right hand, forming a claw-like gesture, and focused intently on a bag of snacks on his desk. His eyes locked onto it with unwavering determination.
"Move! Just… move a little!"
Nothing happened.
Maybe magic only activated in moments of extreme emotion? But with the mind of an adult, it was hard to trigger any major emotional outburst over something so trivial. Either way, since he had already received the letter, it didn't really matter if he could use magic yet. He'd figure it out eventually. There was no need to stress over it now.
Shoving the thought aside for the moment, he pulled out the second sheet of parchment and scanned the contents.
[Uniform]
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain black work robes One plain black pointed hat (for daytime wear) One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note: All students' clothing must be tagged with their name.
[Books]
All students should have a copy of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch One 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 The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
[Other Equipment]
One wand One cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) One set of glass or crystal phials One telescope One set of brass scales
Students may bring an owl, a cat, or a toad.
First-year students are not permitted to bring their own broomsticks.
Looking at the long list of books and supplies, Carnie groaned. One word came to mind—headache. But at the same time, his excitement was through the roof. This must be what they meant by painful joy.
That evening, he sat down with his parents and told them everything. After some discussion, they even held a small family meeting about it.
"I always knew my baby was different from other kids! He was destined for something great!" His mother, Lena, was surprisingly quick to accept the situation. Carnie had expected her to be skeptical about magic, but she seemed to have no doubts at all.
"But I wanted him to take over my business someday!" his father, Carter, said, frowning in frustration. "Magic? I've never heard of such a thing before. Is this really legit?"
"Dad, I can still take over the business after I graduate. As long as you don't run the company into the ground before then."
"How dare you! I don't waste money like that!" Carter huffed, but after a glance at his wife, he quickly corrected himself. "Alright, alright. We'll go along with it."
With the decision made, Carnie wrote his response letter, politely expressing his gratitude for the invitation and asking about where to purchase the required books and supplies. Even though he remembered Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron from his past knowledge, he figured it was best to act like a normal kid and ask for guidance.
He tied the letter back to the owl's leg and watched as it took flight, disappearing into the night sky. Now, all he had to do was wait.
Would Professor McGonagall be the one to come? Most likely.
On the evening of July 20th, the Stran family was finishing up dinner when the doorbell rang.
"That must be the professor!" Carnie said excitedly, jumping up from his seat and sprinting to the door.
"Slow down! You just ate!" his father called after him, while he and Lena followed more calmly.
Carnie opened the door and, just as expected, standing outside was Professor McGonagall. She wore a pointed black hat, square-rimmed glasses, and had her dark hair pulled into a tight bun. Dressed in deep green robes, she looked every bit the stern but dignified figure he remembered.
"Professor, please come in."
"Thank you. What a polite young man," McGonagall said approvingly as she stepped inside.
Once seated, Lena served her a cup of tea. "Professor, thank you for coming all this way. We really appreciate it."
"It's no trouble at all," McGonagall replied, nodding graciously.
"Forgive me, but is magic… really real?" Carter finally asked. He couldn't help his skepticism.
McGonagall smiled slightly, as if she had answered this question many times before. With a flick of her wand, she pointed at the dining table and said, "Scourgify."
Instantly, the plates and utensils on the table, still covered in food scraps from dinner, became spotlessly clean as if they had just been washed.
Lena's eyes sparkled with amazement as she picked up a plate and inspected it from every angle.
After a few more pleasantries and some discussion, they agreed that McGonagall would take Carnie to Diagon Alley in two days to buy his supplies. Since both parents had work the next day, Carnie would have to go alone, but they trusted McGonagall completely.
As Carnie lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, the reality of it all began to sink in.
He was really going to Hogwarts.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
The most powerful wizard in history? That title was still up for grabs.
Carnie Stran was ready to claim it.