Londo was visibly agitated, chattering away nonstop—a stark contrast to his usual gloom.
He rambled about how magnificent Hogwarts was, how alluring the wizarding world seemed, and how mysterious and noble wizards were regarded. His words were all over the place, and Leonard—who'd been a terrible student in his past life—struggled to keep up. After all, his English was learned only in this life, and his vocabulary was no more advanced than that of an eleven-year-old boy.
Still, with some guesswork and his knowledge of the Harry Potter world, Leonard managed to piece together the gist of it.
Leonard's grandfather, Londo William, was a Squib—someone born into a wizarding family but without any magical ability. Such people were despised and shunned by wizards, even considered a disgrace to their own families.
Because of this, Londo William had been sent away early, cut off from the wizarding world, to live as a Muggle, marry, and have children. Yet he always felt superior to Muggles. Though talentless, he could still see the wizarding world, and that bitter privilege made him both resentful and scornful of the family he lived with.
Until Leonard's father turned eleven, he still carried his grandfather's hopes and received his twisted form of paternal affection. But when Leonard's father, too, failed to receive a Hogwarts acceptance letter, he was stripped of his father's love completely.
Unable to bear Londo William's strange temperament, Leonard's father left home early to make his own way in the world. He married and had children, but he never returned. Then tragedy struck, leaving behind a newborn—Leonard.
Leonard transmigrated into this world after the accident. The police sent him to Londo William's farm, where he became a country boy.
No wonder Londo avoided the townsfolk, no wonder he disliked electronics—deep down, he looked down on ordinary people.
Leonard felt pity for the body's father, who had gone his whole life never understanding why his own father had turned so distant when he was eleven. It had been nothing more than the absence of a Hogwarts letter.
That night, Londo William pulled out his treasured brandy and drank himself into a stupor. As he swallowed mouthful after mouthful, he howled like a night owl. It wasn't joy—it was the release of years of pent-up bitterness.
In his room, Leonard listened to his grandfather's drunken raving while staring at the letter from Hogwarts in his hands.
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. William,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts. Enclosed is a list of required books and equipment.
The term begins on September 1. We await your owl's reply by no later than July 31.
Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress
It was a highly formal, standardized letter. Leonard could practically picture a self-writing quill scratching away, filling sheet after sheet of parchment with those exact words.
"Hogwarts... how exciting," Leonard thought wistfully.
Suddenly, a system notification rang in his ear.
[Host has received a Hogwarts acceptance letter. System update initiated... Update complete]
System update?
The system had only just been activated, and already it was changing. Leonard was a bit puzzled, but not alarmed. After all, once he learned of Hogwarts' existence and discovered his magical talent, his interest in a plant-optimizing cheat had waned considerably.
Optimize plants? How could that compare to wielding magic?
But Leonard was about to realize just how wrong he was.
[System update complete. Magical Plant Module activated. Talent unlocked: Friend of Plants]
[Friend of Plants: You have gained the friendship of all plants]
[Beginner's Guide activated. The system will issue tasks to help the host understand its new functions]
The prompts echoed rapidly in Leonard's mind. Before he could even process them, the so-called Beginner's Guide had already begun.
[Beginner's Quest activated. Quest One: Acquire your own magical plant]
[Quest Reward: 10 EXP, one talent skill enhancement]
Magical plants!
Leonard's eyes lit up.
Of course! The wizarding world was full of extraordinary plants. Some carried unique abilities, others held medicinal value and were used in potions—their worth far exceeded that of ordinary flora.
And his ability to optimize plants could be applied to magical ones. While it might not increase his magical power or spells, it could make him the most successful herb merchant in the wizarding world.
What's more, the system had evolved right after he received his Hogwarts letter, even providing him with a convenient Beginner's Guide. That gave Leonard even greater confidence.
"Next step is Diagon Alley. Time to shop—and pick up some magical plants while I'm at it."
Leonard burrowed under the covers, already filled with anticipation for tomorrow's trip to Diagon Alley.