One morning, Julian was practicing chakra when he heard a sharp tapping sound at the window. Opening his eyes, he was startled to see a gray owl pecking insistently at the glass.
Strapped to its leg was a small envelope.
An owl… delivering a letter? His mind buzzed with a strange familiarity. He was certain he had seen this image before, though he couldn't recall when or where. A sense of déjà vu stirred within him, and with it came the heavy feeling that if he accepted this letter, his entire life would change. It was as though a hidden door to another world was about to open.
Taking a deep breath, Julian unlatched the window, allowing the owl to swoop inside. It landed gracefully on the table, fixing him with oddly intelligent eyes before it lifted its leg, offering the letter.
Julian reached for the thick parchment envelope, noting the emerald-green ink and the crest emblazoned with four animals—lion, eagle, badger, and snake. His pulse quickened. Something about that crest struck a deep memory within him.
Written in careful letters was his full address:
Mr. Julian Wooless
Woolies Orphanage, Second Floor
77 Welsh Road
Surrey, England
Curiosity overcoming caution, Julian tore the envelope open and unfolded the parchment.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class; Grand Sorcerer; Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Wooless,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A list of required books and equipment is enclosed.
Term begins September 1st. Please send your reply by owl no later than July 31st.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
The message left Julian sitting motionless for nearly fifteen minutes. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Then, was the energy inside him… magic? Could it be real?
He had read about magic before—in Anne's storybooks. But that was just fantasy. Or so he had thought. Yet, one look at the faint shimmering aura surrounding the letter told him this was no ordinary prank.
Resolute, Julian picked up a quill and sheet of paper. He wrote back eagerly, confirming his wish to attend and asking where he could buy the required books and supplies—and how exactly he was to reach Hogwarts.
He tied the letter to the owl's leg, gave it some breadcrumbs as thanks, and released it into the sky.
Not long after, the owl returned with a new letter:
Dear Mr. Wooless,
I am delighted by your reply. We will soon send someone to assist you with your purchases and school preparations. Please wait patiently.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Julian tucked the letter away and began preparing. He gathered what savings he had earned from delivering milk and newspapers: a humble £4,000. (Some of the money came not only from his part-time work, but also from acting as a small-time "Robin Hood"—stealing from the rich to secretly support the orphanage.)
An hour later, a knock came at the door. Julian opened it to find the head of the orphanage, Mr. Wooless, standing beside an elderly man with long silver hair and a beard.
"Julian, this is Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He has come to take you."
With that, the dean stepped aside, leaving Julian alone with Dumbledore.
"Hello, Mr. Wooless," Dumbledore greeted warmly. "Professor McGonagall must have written to you already. I'm here to help you prepare for school."
Julian scratched his head. "Oh—sir, may I say goodbye to my friend first?"
"Of course," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "Friendship is very important."
Julian knocked at Anne's door and quietly told her he was leaving for a boarding school. The little girl's eyes grew red with tears as she begged him not to forget her. Julian reassured her again and again until, at last, she closed the door, her voice hoarse. Heavy-hearted, he returned to Dumbledore.
"You care for her a great deal," the professor remarked gently.
"Yes, sir," Julian admitted. "Anne is like my sister—just like Sasuke was." He didn't add aloud that she was the only one in the orphanage he truly considered family.
Dumbledore laid a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be sad, my boy. You will see her again at Christmas."
Julian nodded. "Do I need to prepare anything before we go, professor?"
"Just your clothes, and any belongings you wish to take," Dumbledore replied thoughtfully. "But allow me." With a flick of his wand, all of Julian's belongings packed themselves neatly into his trunk.
Julian gasped. "Amazing… was that magic?"
"Of course," Dumbledore chuckled. "But remember, great power must be used wisely. Abusing magic can cause serious consequences."
"I'll remember that, sir," Julian promised.
"Good." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Now then, it's time to meet some goblins."
Together, they left the orphanage and walked toward Charing Cross Road. The Leaky Cauldron was only three streets away. On the way, Julian asked, "Professor, how did you convince Dean Wooless that all this was real?"
"Ah, Julian," Dumbledore answered, "that is one of the many reasons professors accompany young witches and wizards from Muggle families. It is not only about supplies. It is about helping both child and guardian understand the truth. Magic is very persuasive once witnessed firsthand."
Julian frowned. "But professor… how will I pay for all of this? I don't think the orphanage can afford my studies."
"Worry not, my boy," Dumbledore reassured. "The school provides support for talented students like yourself. The money is kept safely at Gringotts, the wizarding bank. We'll withdraw it soon."
The professor smiled as they reached their destination. "Now then, Mr. Wooless… welcome to the wizarding world."
One morning, Julian was practicing chakra when he heard a sharp tapping sound at the window. Opening his eyes, he was startled to see a gray owl pecking insistently at the glass.
Strapped to its leg was a small envelope.
An owl… delivering a letter? His mind buzzed with a strange familiarity. He was certain he had seen this image before, though he couldn't recall when or where. A sense of déjà vu stirred within him, and with it came the heavy feeling that if he accepted this letter, his entire life would change. It was as though a hidden door to another world was about to open.
Taking a deep breath, Julian unlatched the window, allowing the owl to swoop inside. It landed gracefully on the table, fixing him with oddly intelligent eyes before it lifted its leg, offering the letter.
Julian reached for the thick parchment envelope, noting the emerald-green ink and the crest emblazoned with four animals—lion, eagle, badger, and snake. His pulse quickened. Something about that crest struck a deep memory within him.
Written in careful letters was his full address:
Mr. Julian Wooless
Woolies Orphanage, Second Floor
77 Welsh Road
Surrey, England
Curiosity overcoming caution, Julian tore the envelope open and unfolded the parchment.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class; Grand Sorcerer; Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot; Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Wooless,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A list of required books and equipment is enclosed.
Term begins September 1st. Please send your reply by owl no later than July 31st.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
The message left Julian sitting motionless for nearly fifteen minutes. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Then, was the energy inside him… magic? Could it be real?
He had read about magic before—in Anne's storybooks. But that was just fantasy. Or so he had thought. Yet, one look at the faint shimmering aura surrounding the letter told him this was no ordinary prank.
Resolute, Julian picked up a quill and sheet of paper. He wrote back eagerly, confirming his wish to attend and asking where he could buy the required books and supplies—and how exactly he was to reach Hogwarts.
He tied the letter to the owl's leg, gave it some breadcrumbs as thanks, and released it into the sky.
Not long after, the owl returned with a new letter:
Dear Mr. Wooless,
I am delighted by your reply. We will soon send someone to assist you with your purchases and school preparations. Please wait patiently.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Julian tucked the letter away and began preparing. He gathered what savings he had earned from delivering milk and newspapers: a humble £4,000. (Some of the money came not only from his part-time work, but also from acting as a small-time "Robin Hood"—stealing from the rich to secretly support the orphanage.)
An hour later, a knock came at the door. Julian opened it to find the head of the orphanage, Mr. Wooless, standing beside an elderly man with long silver hair and a beard.
"Julian, this is Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts. He has come to take you."
With that, the dean stepped aside, leaving Julian alone with Dumbledore.
"Hello, Mr. Wooless," Dumbledore greeted warmly. "Professor McGonagall must have written to you already. I'm here to help you prepare for school."
Julian scratched his head. "Oh—sir, may I say goodbye to my friend first?"
"Of course," Dumbledore replied with a smile. "Friendship is very important."
Julian knocked at Anne's door and quietly told her he was leaving for a boarding school. The little girl's eyes grew red with tears as she begged him not to forget her. Julian reassured her again and again until, at last, she closed the door, her voice hoarse. Heavy-hearted, he returned to Dumbledore.
"You care for her a great deal," the professor remarked gently.
"Yes, sir," Julian admitted. "Anne is like my sister—just like Sasuke was." He didn't add aloud that she was the only one in the orphanage he truly considered family.
Dumbledore laid a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be sad, my boy. You will see her again at Christmas."
Julian nodded. "Do I need to prepare anything before we go, professor?"
"Just your clothes, and any belongings you wish to take," Dumbledore replied thoughtfully. "But allow me." With a flick of his wand, all of Julian's belongings packed themselves neatly into his trunk.
Julian gasped. "Amazing… was that magic?"
"Of course," Dumbledore chuckled. "But remember, great power must be used wisely. Abusing magic can cause serious consequences."
"I'll remember that, sir," Julian promised.
"Good." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Now then, it's time to meet some goblins."
Together, they left the orphanage and walked toward Charing Cross Road. The Leaky Cauldron was only three streets away. On the way, Julian asked, "Professor, how did you convince Dean Wooless that all this was real?"
"Ah, Julian," Dumbledore answered, "that is one of the many reasons professors accompany young witches and wizards from Muggle families. It is not only about supplies. It is about helping both child and guardian understand the truth. Magic is very persuasive once witnessed firsthand."
Julian frowned. "But professor… how will I pay for all of this? I don't think the orphanage can afford my studies."
"Worry not, my boy," Dumbledore reassured. "The school provides support for talented students like yourself. The money is kept safely at Gringotts, the wizarding bank. We'll withdraw it soon."
The professor smiled as they reached their destination. "Now then, Mr. Wooless… welcome to the wizarding world."