The morning sun cast a golden glow over the room, illuminating my packed trunk near the door. Today was the day I'd been waiting for: my first journey to Hogwarts. The clock ticked closer to 10:30 AM, each second amplifying my anticipation. By evening, I'd be at Hogwarts, the legendary school of witchcraft and wizardry that had been the backdrop of my dreams since receiving my letter.
A soft knock on the door broke the silence. Witty, ever punctual, entered with his usual calm deanor. "Master Nero, it is ti. Shall we depart?"
I nodded, slipping Liss into its place. "Let's go, Witty."
The house-elf reached for my trunk with one hand and held out the other toward . I placed my hand in his without hesitation, familiar with the process. The world around shifted.
A sensation like liquid silk enveloped , the world folding and reshaping around . In an instant, the cozy familiarity of my room lted away, replaced by the bustling scene of King's Cross Station. Letting go of Witty's hand, I steadied myself, my heart calm, my vision sharp.
The process, as always, had been seamless. Over the past months, Witty had beco my go-to thod of long-distance travel, Apparating to various locations as needed. I had learned from my previous life knowledge, and confird through reading that Apparition was notorious for its unpleasant side effects: dizziness, nausea, and the disorienting feeling of being squeezed through a narrow tube.
Yet I felt none of that. Not once.
From my very first experience, Apparition had felt natural, almost effortless. It was as if my body welcod the magic rather than resisted it. Witty, who had decades of experience Apparating wizards, had been astonished. "Master Nero, young wizards often struggle with their first Apparition. But you... no discomfort at all?"
His surprise had stayed with . Perhaps it hinted at sothing unusual within : an innate affinity for teleportation magic, or an unusual talent for spatial manipulation. Whatever the case, it was a peculiarity I had co to embrace, one that might one day offer a significant advantage.
"Shall I bring your trunk to the train, Master Nero?" Witty's voice pulled back to the present.
"No need, Witty," I replied, offering him a grateful smile. "I'll take it from here. And thank you, for everything."
The house-elf bowed deeply, his eyes gleaming with pride. "It is Witty's honor to serve the Ravenclaw family, young master. May you shine brightly at Hogwarts."
I joined the flow of travelers moving toward the station. The barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten lood ahead, deceptively mundane. Witches, wizards, and their children disappeared through it with practiced ease, unnoticed by the oblivious Muggle crowd.
With a steadying breath, I pushed my trolley forward. The mont I passed through the barrier, the world transford. The Hogwarts Express, its scarlet engine gleaming, stood waiting on the platform. The air buzzed with excitent: students hugging parents, owls hooting from their cages, and trunks being hauled onto the train.
Gripping my trolley, I maneuvered through the crowd and boarded the train, the narrow corridor already filling with students. My eyes scanned for an empty compartnt. That's when it happened, a faint nudge, subtle but insistent, like a whisper brushing against the edge of my awareness.
My instincts flared to life. Activating my Raven Eyes, I focused on my surroundings. The world shifted, colors intensifying, details sharpening to an almost overwhelming clarity. A faint shimr of light appeared ahead, its hue incongruous with the natural flow of magic around it.
The thread of light stretched toward a specific compartnt. Sothing about it felt... off. Unnatural. Yet, I decided to give in to my curiosity.
Following the light, I reached the door and slid it open.
Inside, a girl with fiery red hair sat by the window, the sunlight catching the copper tones in her waves. She exuded a magnetic presence, her posture poised but relaxed. Her erald-green eyes turned toward , and for a mont, the world seed to narrow to just the two of us.
"Hello," she said, her voice warm and inviting. "Looking for a seat?"
I stepped inside, inclining my head. "If it's not taken."
She gestured to the bench across from her. "Not at all. First year?"
"Yes," I replied, levitating my trunk effortlessly with a flick of my wand, while muttering nonchalantly Windardium Leviosa.
Her eyes lit up with curiosity as I guided the trunk into place.
"I'm Nero," I introduced myself, my tone polite. "It's a pleasure to et you, Miss...?"
"Ember!" she said brightly, her smile widening. "Call Ember. Finally! Hogwarts! I've been waiting for this mont my entire life. Gryffindor is where I'm headed, no doubt about it. And you, Nero, should feel honored to witness the beginning of my legend! What about you? Which house do you think you'll be sorted into?"
Her questions ca rapid-fire, her excitent contagious. "Have you read about Hogwarts already? Do you have any pets? And wait, your spellcasting just now! That was so smooth. Have you been practicing for a long ti?"
I chuckled lightly, eting her enthusiasm with asured composure. "My family values intellect above all. But while I embrace that philosophy, I also believe practical application is just as important. So yes, I've spent so ti moderately honing my spellwork."
Her erald-green eyes narrowed slightly, though her smile didn't falter. "Moderately honing your spellwork, you say? Your Wingardium Leviosa deviated by over 18 degrees from the standard gesture. Your pronunciation was off by five syllables, perhaps intentionally so. Yet it worked, flawlessly. As if you could have skipped the incantation altogether."
I t her gaze evenly, my own smile deepening. She was sharp, her observations incisive. It was refreshing. But was her earlier exuberance her true self, or had it been calculated to drop my guard? Not that it mattered, I had no intention of hiding my abilities.
Before I could respond, two sharp knocks sounded at the compartnt door.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Chapters today! (1/2)
50 Chapters ahead on Patreon (Suiijin): Chapter 63: The Summon (1)
Reviews
All reviews (0)