"Professor! It's good to see you."
Speaking respectfully and with a hint of cursory caution was a man standing between the counter and a variety of bottles and glasses. A few of the bottles caught Viaelle's eye as the liquids within them sloshed as if they were alive.
The young boy raised a brow. Alcohol was the same no matter how far into the past he had travelled. It had been a while since he gulped down centuries-old ale.
…Looking at the liqueur lined on the shelves, his parched throat desired a drink. Unfortunately, it was unlikely that his tall guide would allow him. To her, he was just a kid.
"Hello, Tom."
Professor McGonagall held one hand in the other in a clasp, discreetly eying the other wizards in the pub. Noticing their still-excited whispers, she nodded internally to herself.
"Another kid? This late?" asked the barkeep, raising his brow and leaning on the counter.
"Indeed. It was only now that his family returned from overseas. We're on our way to the Alley and our time's a little short. No time for distraction."
Tom chuckled, waving his hand lazily in the air, "Of course, of course."
However, it seemed like the barkeep noticed Viaelle's gaze.
"Oho, is there anything you want from my shelves, young lad? I've got quite the collection, and they pack quite a punch, the lot of them. All of which can send your mind into spiralling delight, I daresay."
The young boy frowned in confusion, not expecting to be offered some alcohol already. Just in time, too — he wanted a drink. Unfortunately, a firm hand fell from the sky and grasped his shoulder, steering him towards the back door.
"As I've mentioned, Tom. No distractions."
Professor McGonagall was not having any of it under her watch.
* * *
Finding himself outside the bar and standing in a small, walled courtyard, where there was nothing but a trash can and a few weeds, Viaelle slowly perceived the a few lingering enchantments surrounding him.
His eyes were drawn to the wall above the trash can. A few bricks were very obviously entangled with strands of magic. The others, were the same, albeit a lot less saturated.
'A secret pathway, most likely,'
Now understanding how this part of the wizarding world tended to operate, he was slowly grasping an intuitive sense of the enchantments he saw. Furthermore, the boy could easily make his deductions based on the fact that the professor was trying to lead him to a place where he could buy stuff — an empty courtyard wasn't a place where he could do that.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward and tapped a single brick:
"Remember this, boy — it's three up and two across from the rubbish bin."
The brick that the professor touched quivered, wiggling as a small hole appeared and rapidly grew in size. The bricks rearranged themselves in geometric patterns and opened up an archway that led to a twisting cobbled street whose end obstructed from Viaelle's view.
Stepping through, the young followed after his guide without looking back, already expecting the archway to vanish the moment he'd cross to the other side.
The nearest shop caught his eye, with its sign a glaring [Cauldrons — All Sizes - Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver — Self-Stirring — Collapsible] and hanging over him. Belatedly realising something, he opened his acceptance letter and read through the first page.
[]=[]=[]=[]=[]=[]
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Weaver,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
[]=[]=[]=[]=[]=[]
"…September first is…" Viaelle choked, realising why his guide was a little hurried. Furthermore, he had long passed the deadline for sending over an owl. He didn't even have na owl.
"It's tomorrow,"
Professor McGonagall didn't seem annoyed or she hid it really well. Everything was really being done at the last minute. From informing his parents to bringing him to King's Cross… Viaelle was very underprepared.
'I wasn't able to bring my oil paints…'
He didn't expect the term to start on the very next day. When the professor said 'a little late' he was not expecting this. He could've packed more things along — all he had at the moment was the barest minimum of clothes and toiletries.
Sighing, Viaelle replaced the first page with the one beneath it. There, he found a list of things he needed to buy:
[]=[]=[]=[]=[]=[]
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling[7]
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS
ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
[]=[]=[]=[]=[]=[]
After reading through the list of supplies, Viaelle glanced at Professor McGonagall with a tinge of helplessness. The afternoon had grown dimmer as twilight approached, and he wasn't sure if he could find everything before the stores began closing. If they even closed in the first place — that would be the best possible situation.
Sensing his gaze, the professor didn't seem too troubled. She didn't even check what supplies he was to buy as she most likely had them memorised.
"Don't worry. We should be done in an hour. I'll be paying for your supplies for now and exchange the pounds that your parents have left for you when we have more time. Come, let's start with your measurements."
Malkin's Robes for All Occasions where Viaelle was swiftly measured and outfitted with the Hogwarts robes under Professor's McGonagall's gaze. The professor chatted a bit with Madam Malkin while the boy admired the nature of the different available robes. Flourish and Blotts was next, and the sheer weight of the books that they purchased made the boy dizzy. Luckily, his guide simply tapped the stack of books and they followed them on their own, gliding through the air.
'Convenient,' thought the old slaughter mage.
If he had magic like that in his past life… Life would've been a lot more enjoyable. Hauling corpses wouldn't have been as tedious.
Professor McGonagall then guided him to purchase parchment and quills, as well as his pewter cauldron. At the Apothecary, the professor carefully chose a few basic ingredients for potion making, all while educating the young lad even before the start of the term.
Having noticed the rapt attention of the young Mr. Weaver, the professor instilled in him as much wizarding common sense as she could in the hour that they spent rushing through Diagon Alley. The young boy absorbed her teachings like a sponge, earning her respect.
Professor McGonagall had a feeling that Viaelle would become quite the diligent student in the future. The boy had a good head on his shoulders.
Satisfied with how fast Viaelle was adapting, Professor McGonagall got him a cat and eventually led the boy to get his wand. They opened the door whose peeling gold letters read: Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. assaulting the boy's senses with familiar yet unfamiliar auras.
Squinting, he swiftly deduced what it was — the wands were made from the body parts of mythical creatures, just like the high magic circuit infused into his body back then.
Viaelle shivered.