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August slipped by in a haze of warm days and restless anticipation. Aiden moved back to the Prewett ancestral home, and under Sibby's eager guidance, he familiarized himself with every nook and cranny of the old house.
"Young Master Aiden, this is the master's room, and over here is the library. The basement is where the mistress used to conduct her experiments," Sibby chattered, her voice trembling with excitement. It was clear she hadn't had anyone to talk to in a very long time.
"And here, this is the room the master and mistress prepared for you."
Aiden pushed open the door and was greeted by the sight of a family portrait. His father and mother, both beaming, held a newborn Aiden in their arms. In the corner stood a white crib, its edges carved with delicate patterns. The bedding was soft pink, dotted with cuddly animal toys. A small wardrobe painted with fairy tale scenes added a touch of whimsy, and the thick carpet underfoot was soft and inviting. The lighting was gentle, casting a warm glow over everything.
"Sibby, could you help me move the cabinet and the bed? I'll be living here for a while."
"Of course, Young Master Aiden!" Sibby replied, and with a snap of her fingers, the furniture rearranged itself. In a blink, Aiden was left alone in the room, the air still humming with magic.
The days that followed were filled with routine and discovery. By day, Aiden practiced spells, pushing himself to master every charm and incantation he could find in the Prewett family library. By night, he pored over the old books and notes left behind by his ancestors, absorbing knowledge like a sponge.
*****
September soon arrived, bringing with it a crispness in the air and the promise of new beginnings. On the morning of the first, Aiden met the Weasley family at King's Cross Station. He, Ron, and the twins each lugged a battered suitcase, their faces flushed with excitement.
"You've all broken the Ministry's rules about underage magic. Well, I'll let it go this once—it is the first day of school, after all," Aunty Molly scolded, though there was a twinkle in her eye.
Clearly, for the sake of convenience, George and Fred had betrayed Aiden's secret. He shot them a glare when Aunty Molly wasn't looking, then hurried ahead onto the platform.
Behind him, Ron ran into Harry exactly as expected.
On the train, Aiden wandered down the corridor until he found an empty compartment. He slid the door open and settled in; Lada curled contentedly in his lap.
A timid voice interrupted his thoughts. "Excuse me, may I sit here?"
Aiden looked up to see Neville Longbottom, the boy favored by the July prophecy, standing in the doorway, clutching a toad.
"Of course, please sit down, Mr. Longbottom," Aiden said kindly.
Neville's eyes widened. "You know who I am?"
Aiden smiled. "No, but I'm a mind reader. It's my job to know things."
Neville's jaw dropped. "That's amazing! My gran says people like you are very rare. I'm hopeless at magic—I always forget things. Maybe you could remind me when I forget?"
Aiden chuckled. "I'd be glad to help, but I'm afraid I can't read what you've forgotten yourself."
Neville sighed. "That's a shame."
A few minutes later, the compartment door slid open again, and a bushy-haired girl poked her head in.
"Hello, is there a seat here? I've been searching everywhere, but it's packed out there," she said, words tumbling out in a rush.
"Hello, nice to meet you. My name's Hermione Granger. What are yours?" she asked, looking from Aiden to Neville.
"Aiden Prewett," Aiden replied, lifting Lada in his arms. "And this is Lada, my cat."
Lada raised a paw in greeting.
"Neville Longbottom," Neville said, holding up his toad. "And this is Trevor."
Aiden glanced at Hermione and, with a flicker of his ability, sensed a swirl of anxiety and curiosity in her emotions.
Once Hermione had settled in, the three began to chat. Lada seemed a bit uneasy, so Aiden shifted her gently to a more comfortable spot.
"No one in my family is a witch or wizard," Hermione began, her words quick and precise. "I was so surprised when I got my letter. But I'm thrilled—I've already memorized all the textbooks. I hope it'll be enough."
Neville nodded. "I come from a wizarding family, but I live with my gran. I'm dreadful at remembering things, and she's always telling me off."
Aiden smiled. "I'm from a wizarding family as well. I used to live with my aunt, but now I'm on my own. The house-elf Sibby looks after me."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Aiden, your eyes are so unusual—and your pupils are different from ours. Is that common in wizarding families? What's your daily life like? Do you practice magic at home? Do you"—
Aiden handed her a lemon sherbet. "Relax, Miss Granger. I can tell your mind is filled with worries about the future."
"You can really see that?" Hermione asked, astonished.
"Aiden's a Legilimens," Neville explained helpfully.
"Legilimens? What's that?" Hermione's questions only multiplied.
Aiden explained, "Some people are born with the ability to read minds. Wizards can learn Legilimency to do the same thing."
Hermione's eyes sparkled. "That's incredible. I wish I could do that."
She turned the conversation. "I tried lots of spells over the summer, but some just wouldn't work. What about you?"
Neville shuddered. "I can't do most of them. I thought I was a Muggle until my letter arrived."
Suddenly, Neville's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no, Trevor's gone!" he cried, searching frantically.
"Don't worry, Neville, we'll help you find him," Hermione declared, leaping up.
Aiden sighed inwardly. "Why am I included in this? Are you the sheriff of the Justiciar Pathway or something ?" He grumbled to himself.
He reached out with his senses, but even he hadn't noticed Trevor's departure. "No, something's blocked my perception," he realized, and turned to the system.
"System, is it what I think?"
"Ding, just as the host suspects."
*****
On the other side of the train, Draco Malfoy strutted through the corridor, Crabbe and Goyle trailing behind. Before leaving, his father had told him that they would be his followers at school. Draco was in high spirits, convinced of his own importance.
He stopped outside a compartment where Harry and Ron were sitting. Sparks seemed to fly as he opened the door.
"I hear the famous savior is on this train. Let's be friends," Draco said, extending a hand.
Ron jumped in. "No, Harry, he's a Malfoy. His whole family's full of Death Eaters."
Harry hesitated, then shook his head, rejecting Draco's offer. The two boys eyed each other warily, and in that instant, a rivalry was born.
At that moment, Hermione, Neville, and Aiden arrived, still searching for Trevor. The compartment suddenly felt much more crowded.
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