Dumbledore?
???
Meow meow meow?
Where am I? Who am I? What am I doing here?
Didn't I agree to be reborn 39 years ago, get my Golden Finger, use my foresight to marry a rich, beautiful woman, and reach the pinnacle of life? So why did Dumbledore suddenly show up?
…I should've realized it earlier. Isn't Wu's Orphanage the same place where Voldemort stayed when he was a child? No wonder the name sounded familiar.
At this moment, Albert had countless thoughts rushing through his mind, but in the end, he buried all his doubts deep within and remained calm on the surface.
"Hello, Mr. Dumbledore, and Mrs. Gary," he said, stepping aside politely. "Please come in and have a seat."
"Oh, no need, George," Mrs. Gary said with a warm smile. "Mr. Dumbledore is the headmaster of a school. He wants to talk to you privately. I'm just an old lady—I won't disturb you."
With that, she stepped out and gently closed the door behind her.
Soon, the creaking sounds of her descending footsteps echoed faintly down the stairs.
"Well, hello there, child," Dumbledore said gently, gazing at Albert with kind eyes. "I'm the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Hello, Mr. Dumbledore," Albert responded calmly, though a glimmer of excitement flickered in his eyes. He wasn't surprised or nervous—he was thrilled at the confirmation that he had, in fact, traveled to another world.
This excitement didn't escape Dumbledore's keen senses.
"You don't seem too shocked by the word magic. It seems you've already realized you're different," Dumbledore said with a knowing look. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the teacup on Albert's desk was filled with steaming black tea.
"Oh! That's so cool!" Albert exclaimed with genuine admiration. But instead of being passive, he decided to show his own ability. With a thought, the spoon on the tea tray floated up shakily and then dropped directly into the cup.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised.
He had never seen a child demonstrate such control over magic without formal training. Typically, young wizards have very limited magical capacity and almost no control, especially without the help of a wand.
Though Albert's display was a bit crude in terms of magical precision, compared to many adult wizards, it was still extraordinary. It was more than enough to prove that Albert was an out-and-out magical genius.
"I had a lot of thoughts when I discovered this... super ability," Albert said with a slightly theatrical air. "I figured I couldn't be the only one in the world with powers like this. But when I tried to talk to others, they dismissed it. It was like they couldn't believe magic or superpowers were even real. So I thought—maybe there's some secret organization out there. Maybe people like me exist. Maybe they'd find me."
"You're quite the clever boy," Dumbledore said with a smile. "So, would you like to join Hogwarts and learn more about magic—together with other young wizards your age?"
"Definitely, Mr. Dumbledore," Albert said without hesitation. His face lit up with youthful enthusiasm. "I'm really looking forward to life at the academy."
Though Albert was technically 31 years old across two lifetimes, the excitement of entering this magical world—one from his childhood dreams—was overwhelming. Becoming a student at Hogwarts was more than just a chance to learn magic; it was a dream come true.
The internet? Becoming the world's richest man? Marrying a rich and beautiful woman? None of that mattered anymore.
What wealth could ever compare to the power of magic?
What other beauties could rival the heroines and magical girls of this world—like the know-it-all Hermione, or the charming, part-Veela Fleur Delacour?
Of course, the wizarding world wasn't without danger. There were still villains like Death Eaters and Voldemort lurking in the shadows, and Hogwarts wasn't exactly a peaceful school. Danger came with the territory—but so did opportunity.
Albert believed that, on the whole, the "light side" of magic still held the upper hand. Even the final crisis with Voldemort was largely orchestrated by Dumbledore himself, aiming to eliminate the Dark Lord once and for all.
And besides—where there is danger, there is also growth.
Albert's Golden Finger didn't come with detailed tutorials or a guided path like those in web novels. If he wanted to deepen his power—especially his manipulation of time and space—then mastering magic was the obvious path.
He even dreamed of going further—of one day traveling across multiple worlds, living countless lives.
After that, Albert and Dumbledore talked for a long time. Though Albert already knew most things from the books and movies, he still asked questions like a curious child. Dumbledore, ever the patient teacher, answered every one.
Finally, the conversation drew to a close.
"It's getting late," Dumbledore said, rising from his chair. "We should head to Diagon Alley now. You'll need to buy your school supplies. Do you have enough pounds?"
"Of course, Mr. Dumbledore." Albert opened a drawer and pulled out a wallet, from which he took a thick stack of bills. "I've been submitting short stories to children's magazines for some time now. I've saved up quite a bit in royalties. I think it'll be enough."
"Excellent," Dumbledore nodded approvingly. "Then let's be on our way."
"Feiju, let's go." Albert turned toward the window sill, where a small white cat was lazily stretched out. At his call, the cat leapt down gracefully and landed in his open backpack, her little head sticking out.
After bidding farewell to Mrs. Gary and a few curious children peeking from the hallway, Albert followed Dumbledore out of Wu's Orphanage. The two of them turned into a narrow, quiet alley.