Ding-dong...
The alarm had barely started ringing when Sterling pressed it down with one hand and let out a long yawn.
He hadn't spent an entire night active in a dream for quite some time.
Although he could reach that other world through his dreams, his physical body didn't get proper rest if he remained active within the dream. Only if he actually slept peacefully inside the dream world did it count as genuine rest.
So Sterling had essentially stayed awake all night before his crucial meeting with the Hogwarts professor.
He carefully examined his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Since he rarely bothered with such things, the dark circles under his eyes suddenly became painfully obvious. This wasn't a good sign at all. Professor McGonagall's appointment was scheduled for 8:30 AM, and there simply wasn't enough time for him to catch up on sleep.
This was going to be his very first impression at Hogwarts...
Sterling glumly ate a hastily prepared sandwich. Even if first impressions didn't ultimately matter, he still desperately wanted to appear bright and energetic when stepping into the magical world for the first time.
However, glancing down at the tiny green sparks flickering playfully at his fingertips, Sterling realized he wasn't actually that upset after all.
After all, it had been his own deliberate choice to sacrifice sleep time in order to learn Maleficent's powerful "Flame of Life" magic.
Sterling gathered some manuscript papers and his favorite quills, then began frantically writing in the living room. The vivid scene of the kingdom trapped in eternal winter gradually took shape beneath his pen. But because he hadn't yet witnessed how that particular story began, his narrative itself had no proper beginning.
While writing furiously, he kept glancing nervously at the wall clock. When he finally couldn't wait any longer and started sketching the fearsome snow monster on his manuscript, the clock hands pointed exactly to 8:30.
A short, sharp "pop" sounded just outside his door.
This was followed by several light, professional knocks and a brisk greeting delivered with a distinct Scottish accent.
"I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Professor of Transfiguration. I'm here for our appointment arranged yesterday."
Sterling quickly ran to open the door. The moment his hand grasped the brass handle, he felt absolutely no nervousness whatsoever. Only pure anticipation and burning curiosity toward this monumental new encounter.
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall!"
The distinguished woman standing before him wore elegant emerald green robes and had her graying hair pulled tightly into a severe bun. She radiated an aura of rigorous authority that made Sterling instinctively straighten his posture.
Professor McGonagall noticed this respectful response and allowed herself a small, approving smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Page. Where might your parents be? I believe I should provide them with a comprehensive introduction about Hogwarts."
Sterling immediately sensed the professor's efficient, no-nonsense demeanor. Truly worthy of a Deputy Headmistress, exactly as he had imagined such a person would be.
As he politely led the professor into his living room, he replied carefully, "My guardian has been dealing with quite a few complicated matters lately. I mean, I'm capable of making many important decisions for myself. Of course, I have properly notified him about this, and he has given me his complete approval to make my own choices."
Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze carried a hint of disapproval. She privately thought the guardian was perhaps somewhat too permissive, entrusting such significant matters entirely to a child. However, since this was clearly a family matter, she refrained from making any direct comments.
Actually, for the purposes of guiding new students, this was often welcome news. Young people were usually far more receptive to magical concepts than skeptical adults.
"Very well then, Mr. Page. You must have already noticed the existence of magic in your life, correct? Perhaps objects floating mysteriously? Or things disappearing into thin air?"
Sterling nodded confidently and smoothly transformed the quill in his hand into a vibrant yellow sunflower.
"Mr. Page? That was..."
McGonagall's expert gaze alternated between Sterling and the immaculate sunflower resting in his palm, genuine amazement written across her features. She almost questioned whether the demanding preparations before the term began had finally addled her mind.
Transforming one object into another to demonstrate magical ability... wasn't that precisely what she had been planning to do herself?
That was absolutely splendid transfiguration work. Clean, precise, and showing no trace whatsoever of the original quill. Even on a first-year final examination, Professor McGonagall would award such flawless transfiguration an emphatic "Outstanding."
"Exceptional talent, Mr. Page. I never expected to witness such impressive transfiguration from a young wizard who hasn't even enrolled yet. I believe you will make an outstanding Gryffindor... or perhaps Ravenclaw."
"Professor, what exactly are Gryffindor and Ravenclaw?"
Noticing the obvious confusion spreading across Sterling's face, McGonagall smiled with familiar warmth. This was precisely how most young wizards responded to their first introduction.
"Those are two of the four Houses at Hogwarts. Mr. Page, allow me to tell you about our school. I suppose I don't need to explain much more about magic itself."
The professor tapped her slender wooden wand against a plain biscuit resting on the table, instantly conjuring four exquisitely crafted metallic badges that gleamed in the morning light.
A proud red lion, a loyal yellow badger, an ambitious green serpent, and a wise blue eagle.
"Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw."
As she pointed to each distinctive badge in turn, she noticed Sterling's face light up with genuine fascination when his gaze focused on her wand.
"This is a wand, every wizard's essential partner for casting spells. You'll receive your very own when we go shopping shortly."
"I suppose you simply can't wait..."
McGonagall was preparing to continue her explanation when she met Sterling's eager, sparkling eyes. She now strongly suspected this particular child would likely belong in Ravenclaw, given his obvious intellectual curiosity about magical theory.
In any case, detailed knowledge about the Houses would come naturally when he purchased his textbooks. So why not satisfy his curiosity immediately and proceed directly to the shopping expedition?
"Everything listed on your acceptance letter can be purchased in Diagon Alley. The entrance is located behind a public house on Charing Cross Road called The Leaky Cauldron... though of course, Muggles cannot see it due to necessary secrecy charms."
"Normally, you could simply walk to Charing Cross Road. The entrance is quite noticeable to young wizards with magical abilities. But today, for the sake of efficiency, we'll employ a rather more magical method of transportation."
Professor McGonagall rose gracefully and extended her hand toward Sterling.
"Hold on tightly. Don't let go under any circumstances, or we might encounter some rather unpleasant complications."
"Is this a teleportation spell?"
Sterling gripped the professor's arm firmly, not daring to ignore such a serious warning from an experienced witch.
"Indeed, we call it Apparition. You'll learn this convenient magic during your sixth year... though for beginners..."
McGonagall smiled knowingly and began to turn in place.
Suddenly Sterling's vision went completely black. He felt as if he was being forcibly stuffed into an impossibly tiny box that kept violently shaking in every direction, accompanied by a suffocating sensation like being flushed down an enormous toilet.
POP!
Sterling stumbled twice and found himself leaning heavily against a weathered brick wall, where a thoughtfully positioned waste bin had materialized nearby.
"Yes, it can be rather difficult to accept initially."
Without even looking, Sterling could tell the professor was smiling with amused sympathy.
Wizard teleportation was genuinely disappointing compared to Lady Maleficent's elegant, fiery transportation! Her magical flames were never uncomfortable. Instead, they provided wonderful warmth!
Sterling closed his eyes and tried to relax completely, ultimately managing not to require the professor's thoughtfully provided waste bin.
"That was absolutely terrifying..."
Sterling lamented dramatically, while McGonagall produced a small glass bottle containing a light blue potion.
"Drink some of this calming draught. It will make you feel considerably better."
As Sterling reluctantly sipped the bitter medicine, McGonagall walked in a careful circle around him, systematically checking to ensure he wasn't missing any important "parts."
"Professor McGonagall? Do I have any problems?"
Noticing her thorough inspection, the professor shook her head reassuringly.
"No problems whatsoever. You listened exceptionally well to my instructions. If you hadn't maintained that tight grip on my hand, we would currently be searching for your missing hands or eyes. Failed Apparition can cause severe splinching, separating parts of your body. You must never attempt to learn this particular magic on your own. If you cannot reattach the separated parts quickly enough, they might be lost forever."
Failed Apparition could actually separate body parts? That somehow sounded considerably safer than Maleficent's fiery transportation method.
Last night, Lady Maleficent had demonstrated that transportation failure with her flames could be absolutely catastrophic. A single mistake might leave an entire area completely lifeless for decades.
Compared to the possibility of lost body parts versus certain death, wizard magic was actually relatively safe.
Professor McGonagall clapped her hands sharply, drawing Sterling's wandering thoughts back to the present moment. With a casual wave of her wand, the floating waste bin obediently returned to its proper position.
"Mr. Page, do you see the wall you're currently leaning against?"
Sterling hurried to the professor's side and looked at... the same waste bin from before?
"When you receive your own wand, you must remember this exact sequence."
She tapped decisively on one particular brick that was noticeably different in color from all the others surrounding it.
"From this specific brick, count precisely three bricks upward and exactly two horizontally."
The tip of her wand touched that chosen brick, then she graciously handed the other end to Sterling.
"From my many years of guiding new students, I've learned it feels far more magical if you personally open the door. Go ahead and tap several times, Mr. Page."
Sterling took a deep, steadying breath and slowly tapped three deliberate times.
The brick began shaking vigorously, then collapsed inward completely. The surrounding bricks rotated and disappeared entirely until a magnificent archway appeared, wide enough for two people to walk through comfortably side by side.
Looking ahead at the winding cobblestone path that disappeared mysteriously into the distance, Sterling instinctively grasped the black raven feather ornament pinned to his chest and stepped forward with determination.
His very first step into the real magical world.