Hogwarts: Novel Era of the Wizarding World

The soft warmth of his mom's kiss woke Adam as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains and onto his face. Olivia's voice followed, gentle but bright, "Good morning, sleepyhead."

Still half in his dreams, Adam blinked and mumbled a sleepy greeting, stretching under the blankets. Olivia smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his face before heading out of the room to start her day.

For a moment, Adam just lay there, soaking in the calm, quiet feeling. But soon enough, the thoughts from the previous night crept in—the magic, the spark he had conjured, the strange power he'd felt deep inside. His heart skipped a beat, excitement rushing back.

By the time Adam made his way to the bathroom, his head was spinning with ideas. Splashing cold water on his face, he stared at his reflection, eyes narrowing slightly.

I did it. I really did magic. That tiny spark, barely enough to light a candle… but it was real. Still, part of him was frustrated—why couldn't he create something bigger? His chest tightened at the memory of the small flicker. It was real, yet so far from the grand flames he'd always imagined. The ache of disappointment mingled with the rush of possibility, creating a restless energy within him. But that same energy fueled his resolve—this was only the start.

He caught himself, a grin tugging at his lips. This is just the beginning. If I made a spark, fire's next. It's all about practice.

Instead of feeling discouraged, Adam felt more determined. A challenge was just what he needed, and with magic now in his hands, the possibilities were endless.

Next adventure: learning to control this magic, he thought, drying his face. No more tiny sparks. I'll aim higher.

After getting dressed and making his bed, Adam's mind raced with plans. He could try magic again after breakfast, but maybe it'd be better to find a quiet place—somewhere his parents wouldn't hear him. They still didn't believe in Hogwarts, and he didn't want them asking questions just yet.

Maybe he could find one of the secret spaces the map had shown him… or maybe another place nearby where he could experiment without worrying.

He couldn't help but smile at the thought of a new adventure waiting just around the corner.

Downstairs, he found his parents already sitting at the table. The smell of eggs and toast filled the air, and Adam greeted them with a bright "Good morning!" as he sat down.

"Morning, kiddo," George replied, his eyes glancing up from the newspaper for a second. Olivia smiled, adding another slice of toast to his plate.

They settled into their usual morning rhythm, the clink of utensils and soft chatter filling the space as Adam ate. George was reading through the local news, his expression changing when he reached a particular article. He frowned slightly, glancing up at Adam, then quickly back down at the paper.

"Something wrong, Dad?" Adam asked, sensing a shift in his dad's mood.

George hesitated, folding the paper and setting it aside. "There's been another report of people going missing near your school."

"More disappearances?" Olivia asked, concern rising in her voice. "That's the third time this month."

Adam's stomach twisted a little. He hadn't thought about it, but now that he was, he remembered seeing something unusual on his map recently—a high-level secret space near the school. It had been too dangerous for him to explore, but now… he couldn't help but wonder if these disappearances had anything to do with it.

Trying to push the thought aside, Adam focused on his breakfast, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy. It was hard to ignore the connection in his mind.

Shifting his focus back, he looked at his parents, who were still talking about the article. He decided to bring up what had been on his mind all morning. "I wonder when Hogwarts will send a response," he said, trying to sound casual.

George and Olivia exchanged glances. George seemed to hesitate, then cleared his throat. "Well, about that…" George's hand moved to his hair, ruffling it in a way Adam recognized all too well. His dad was stalling. "Another letter came last night."

"What?" Adam's eyes went wide. "When did it arrive?"

"It was late. You and your mom were already asleep," George explained, his voice quieter now. "I didn't want to wake you, so I thought we'd give it to you after breakfast."

Olivia blinked, her surprise evident. "I didn't know about it. I must have been out cold."

Adam's heart was racing again. "Where is it?"

George got up, walked over to a drawer, and pulled out the familiar envelope. "Here," he said, handing it over to Adam.

Adam's hands trembled with excitement as he took it. What would the letter say? Would it be enough to finally convince his parents?

He opened the letter quickly, careful not to tear it, and read aloud:

"Dear Mr. Taylor,

It is perfectly normal for families with no magical background to have doubts regarding the authenticity of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please rest assured that all concerns will be addressed.

I will visit your residence at 10 in the morning to personally meet you and your family. Following our meeting, I will accompany you to Diagon Alley, where you can purchase the necessary supplies for your school year, as I will be visiting the area that day as well.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress"

Adam lowered the letter, a wide grin spreading across his face. "She's coming today, at 10 o'clock."

Olivia's eyes widened. "That's… less than an hour away."

George sat back in his chair, his face serious, though there was a slight look of disbelief in his eyes. "So she's really coming here, huh?"

"I guess we'll know for sure if this is real or not," Olivia said softly, her voice shaky. She glanced at George. "If a woman who claims to be a witch shows up at our door, I guess we'll have to believe it."

Adam could barely contain his excitement. He was going to meet Professor McGonagall—today! And then… Diagon Alley! This was the adventure he'd always dreamed of, and it was about to come true.

George stood up and started clearing the table, his voice low and serious. "We'll see what she has to say. But Adam, just remember—if anything feels off, we'll pull out, okay?"

Adam nodded, though he was already sure this was all real. There was no doubt in his mind.

As they cleaned up, the air around them was thick with anticipation. Adam couldn't stop glancing at the clock, counting down the minutes until 10:00 AM.

The minutes seemed to crawl by as Adam stared at the clock, barely able to contain his excitement. Professor McGonagall was coming today—soon. The idea of meeting someone from Hogwarts was surreal, but he could already picture it: the serious, yet elegant woman in her robes, ready to take him to Diagon Alley. It was everything he'd dreamed of in his past life, and now it was finally happening.

His thoughts drifted back to that first life, the one he'd lived before being reborn here, and the fantasies he used to have. He'd always wished to live in a magical world, to be a part of something like Hogwarts. In that life, he'd read about wizards and witches, longing for a world where magic was real. And now, after all this time, here he was, about to step into that very world.

For a moment, he let himself imagine what his old self would think of this. Would he believe it? Would he be as excited as Adam was now?

"Hey, you okay there?" Olivia's voice pulled him back to the present. She was standing in the doorway, her brow furrowed with concern.

Adam blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah, I'm just—just thinking."

Olivia raised an eyebrow but didn't press. "It's almost time. You sure you're ready for this?"

"I think so," Adam said with a small grin. He was more than ready—he was bursting with energy. But something in Olivia's eyes made him pause. She looked worried.

George had been quiet, lost in his own thoughts. But Adam knew that his dad wasn't ready to completely believe in all of this, even with Professor McGonagall coming. The skepticism was still there, lurking beneath the surface.

When Adam looked at George, he noticed his dad was eyeing the clock too, his hand tapping lightly on the table. "I still can't believe this is happening," George muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "But I suppose we'll find out soon enough."

Olivia sighed, the worry clear on her face. "It's just… what if this is all a scam? I don't want you to get hurt, Adam. What if this woman shows up and—"

"Mom…" Adam interrupted, his voice steady. "It's real. I know it is." His heart beat a little faster. He had no doubts. In his past life, he had wished for magic—wished to be a part of something greater. And now, that wish was coming true.

Olivia seemed unconvinced but nodded slowly. "I hope you're right."

The ring of the doorbell echoed through the room, slicing through the thick anticipation that hung between them. Olivia glanced at Adam, her brow furrowed with worry, while Adam's heart pounded faster, the weight of the moment pressing on him.

It was time.

George stood up and motioned for Adam to stay put. "I'll get it. You stay here with your mom."

Adam nodded, but he couldn't hide the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips.

The sound of the front door opening reached him, followed by George's voice. "Professor McGonagall, I assume?"

"Yes, Mr. Taylor. I trust I'm not too early?"

Adam's heart skipped a beat at the sound of the voice. It was exactly how he remembered it from the stories of his past life—a voice that carried authority, but also warmth.

George's voice was low but full of curiosity. "You're on time, alright. Please, come in."

George couldn't shake the suspicion lingering in his mind. Every detail, from her hat to her odd mannerisms, screamed that this was some elaborate performance. Yet, the authority in her voice tugged at something deeper.

Adam couldn't hold it back any longer. He jumped up from his chair and rushed to the doorway, Olivia trailing behind him.

And there she was—Professor McGonagall, standing in the doorway with her robes perfectly arranged, her sharp eyes taking in the room with a quick, assessing glance. The air seemed to shift around her, and for a second, Adam felt the weight of the moment. Professor McGonagall looked the same as he had seen in the movies, just with little differences, especially her age which didn't seem to be too old but rather like a woman in her 50s.

'She was real. She was here. He wasn't dreaming' Adam thought to himself.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor," Professor McGonagall greeted them. Her eyes turned to Adam, softening ever so slightly. "And I believe you must be Adam."

"Yes, I am," Adam replied, his voice almost too eager. He couldn't stop the grin that stretched across his face. This was happening.

Professor McGonagall's lips quirked upward in a small, knowing smile. "I see you're quite excited. I can't blame you—it's not every day you're invited to Hogwarts."

Adam's heart soared at the mention of Hogwarts. "I—thank you for coming. I didn't expect it to happen so soon."

Professor McGonagall could feel the excitement through Adam's voice; she was surprised to see such excitement, as it was mostly skepticism and doubts that came through from both parents and children.

Even though the appearance of magic in the Muggle world had changed the level of skepticism and suspicion since many Muggle magic academies had started emerging in the past few decades, it still hadn't reached the point where children and their parents would be so welcoming after hearing about a name like Hogwarts—one that no one in the Muggle world knew about.

"Normally, we don't meet Muggle-born students this early," she said, her voice brisk but not unkind. "But given that we were in the area, my colleague and I decided it would be best to visit families in this area sooner rather than later."

Olivia, who had been silent since Professor McGonagall's arrival, spoke. "What do you mean by Muggle-born or non-magical background? Maybe you are unaware, but I can do a little magic too." Olivia raised her right hand in front of her and muttered "fire" to herself, and a few sparks flickered before a small fire, the size of a tennis ball, appeared floating above her open hand.

Professor McGonagall was pleasantly surprised to see such a scene. She understood what Olivia wanted to say. She smiled at her and praised, "That is really impressive. I heard that mostly people who use magic can barely create sparks. I know what you mean, Ms. Taylor, but rest assured, I'll answer all your questions to make sure you have no doubts, and you'll feel free to let Adam attend the best school of Witchcraft and Wizardry—Hogwarts."

"Honey, let's head inside first, then we can ask her our doubts." George said to Olivia before inviting Professor McGonagall inside. He was skeptical hearing Professor McGonagall's words stating that she had "heard" that most people can only make sparks, which was actually a common thing that everyone knew.

Everyone went inside and sat down in the hall. After offering some refreshments, Olivia also sat down. Adam couldn't calm his excitement, but he decided that he should stay silent until his father and mother were free of worries.

Professor McGonagall drank a sip of tea before she spoke like a trained professional, perhaps because of how many times she had gone to Muggle students' houses.

"Let us begin with the introductions. I'm Minerva McGonagall. You can also call me Professor McGonagall. I'm the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I also teach Transfiguration to the students of Hogwarts."

Adam knew everything that Professor McGonagall said, but he was still fascinated to see his dream unfolding in front of him. He listened silently along with George and Olivia who couldn't wait to ask the questions that spun around in their minds.